The following is a schedule of key events for China's parliament, the National People's Congress, which is to open its annual session on Saturday. (Beijing local time)

March 5 (Saturday)

09:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony

- The Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council;

- Reviewing the Report of the State Council on the implementation of the 2004 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2005 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development;

- Reviewing Report of the State Council on the implementation of the Central and Local Budget for 2004 and on the Draft Central and Local Budget for 2005.

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March 6 (Sunday)

10:00 a.m. A Press Conference by Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the International Situation and China's Foreign Policy.

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March 7 (Monday)

10:00 a.m. A Press Conference on Economic and Social Development and Macro-Control by Ma Kai, minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission, Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission and Li Yuan, vice minister of Land and Resources.

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March 8 (Tuesday)

09:00 a.m. Second Plenary Session

- Vote on the draft decision on accepting the request from Jiang Zemin to resign as Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China;

- Vote on the draft method of election and decision on appointment for the Third Session of the Tenth NPC;

- Explanations by Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on the draft Anti-Secession Law.

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March 9 (Wednesday)

09:00 a.m. Third Plenary Session

- The Report by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on the Work of the NPC Standing Committee;

- The Report by Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme People's Court, on the Work of the Supreme People's Court;

- The Report by Jia Chunwang, procurator-general of the Supreme People 's Procuratorate, on the Work of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

15:00 p.m. A Press Conference on Fiscal and Taxation Work by Minister of Finance Jin Renqing and Xie Xuren, director of the State Administration of Taxation.

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March 10 (Thursday)

10:00 a.m. A Press Conference on Agriculture, Rural Areas and Farmers by Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin, Vice Minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission Jiang Weixin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong and Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Zhigang.

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March 13 (Sunday)

09:00 a.m. Fourth Plenary Session

- Vote on the draft name list of chief vote monitors and other monitors for the Third Session of the Tenth NPC;

- Election for Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China;

- By-election for members of the Tenth NPC Standing Committee;

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14 March (Monday)

09:00 a.m. Closing Ceremony

- Vote on the draft resolution on Report on the Work of the Government;

- Vote on the draft resolution on the implementation of the 2004 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the 2005 Draft Plan for National Economic and Social Development;

- Vote on the draft resolution on the implementation of the Central and Local Budget for 2004 and on the Draft Central and Local Budget for 2005;

- Vote on the draft resolution on Report on the Work of the NPC Standing Committee;

- Vote on the draft resolution on Report on the Work of the Supreme People's Court;

- Vote on the draft resolution on Report on the Work of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;

- A Decision on other members of the CPC Central Military Commission;

- Vote on the draft Anti-Secession Law;

- Closing of the session.

10:30 a.m. Premier Wen Jiabao meets the press.

Source: Xinhua