China has kicked off a major political event amid ongoing trade tensions with the U.S..
The so-called "two sessions" meeting will run for about two weeks, with the economy set to top the agenda.
Ro Aram has the details.
This annual event sets out China's political and economic goals for the coming year so it will have a huge impact on both domestic affairs as well as foreign policy.
Around 5,000 delegates from China's top two political parties are gathering in Beijing - among them President Xi Jinping and other high-level officials.
On Sunday, the country's political advisory body, known as the CPPCC, kicked off proceedings.
This party is mostly comprised of non-political figures who do not have legislative power.
From Tuesday China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress, will run parallel to that meeting.
The whole process is expected to take about two weeks.
This year the key agenda will be the economy.
Both parties will be trying pass a new foreign investment law designed to ease foreign concerns about China's highly-regulated investment environment.
This planned legislation comes amid talks between Beijing and Washington to resolve their trade dispute.
The gatherings will also likely address China's slumping economy and a lowered growth forecast is expected to come out.
Other agenda items to be discussed include various domestic issues, such as education, medical care and tackling poverty
Ro Aram, Arirang News..