A news conference is held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Jan 8, introducing the upcoming two sessions. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The third session of the 12th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will begin on Jan 11, starting the annual two sessions of Zhejiang province. The third session of the 13th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress - the latter half of the two sessions - is scheduled to take place from Jan 12 to 16.

Details of the preparations and general information about the sessions were announced at a news conference in Hangzhou on Jan 8.

Deputies attending the five-day session of Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress will be briefed on work reports from the provincial government, the Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, Zhejiang Higher People's Court and the Provincial People's Procuratorate of Zhejiang. They will also hold discussions on the government work report, work plan and budget report of the province, and submit motions and suggestions to the congress.

A set of regulations to boost the private sector will be proposed for review at this year's two sessions, which will be the first legislative activity of the 13th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress since it began its first session in January 2018.

The standing committee of the congress has been pushing forward the drafting of the regulations in recent years as the private sector is an asset of the province and a major driving force of its economy.

Two special interviews will be held during the two sessions, where heads of several departments and some deputies to the congress will be interviewed together by media to answer questions on policies, government work and issues of public concern. It will be the first time for such interviews to be held in Zhejiang's annual sessions. 

In addition, 15 Zhejiang natives living overseas will be invited to attend the session of the congress, the first time in the history of Zhejiang's annual sessions, to encourage overseas Zhejiang natives to contribute to the development of the province.