BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Following is a summary of major news stories of the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) for Sunday at 23:00 (Beijing time):     

    China-Hu Jintao-armed forces     

    BEIJING: Chinese President and new state military chief Hu Jintao Sunday urged the country's armed forces to earnestly perform their historical mission in the new century and safeguard China's state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests. "We must continuously enhance our sense of political responsibility, and always place the task of defending national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and safeguarding the interests of national development above anything else," said Hu at a plenary meeting of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) delegation to the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress in Beijing.     

    China-beauty contests     

    BEIJING: The unfettered passion for beauty-centered activities in China was largely questioned by lawmakers attending the third annual session of the tenth National People's Congress (NPC) here on Sunday, as it is considered likely to exert negative impacts onwomen's development. "Government departments should wait no further to codify caution against rampant Miss contests being heldacross the country," said Li Yaping, a NPC deputy and chairwoman of central China's Henan Provincial Women's Federation, suggestingthat policies be made to better regulate beauty pageants.     

    China-teachers-salary     

    BEIJING: Salaries of primary and middle school teachers in China's vast rural areas should be covered by the central budget, suggests Hu Pingping, deputy director of the provincial education department in east China's Anhui Province, here Sunday at the on-going session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's toplegislature.     

    China-heritage-protection     

    BEIJING: Chinese legislature was urged to enact a law to betterprotect the country's intangible heritage such as the Shaolin kongfu master skills. "We have to wake up to the fact that some other nations might have already began to capitalize on our traditional know-how to sharpen their own competitive edge and make profits amid fierce international competitions in a globalized society," said Master Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple and a deputy to the National People's Congress. Enditem