Editor's Note:  Since the opening of the annual sessions of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), foreign media have paid great attention to the development of sessions and opinions voiced at panal discussions. Following are selections of their news coverage or comments.

Open annual sessions draw closer attention of world     In recent years, the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have become increasingly more open, according to a People's Daily commentary.     This year in particular, the annual sessions are more like an "international convention" in the eyes of foreign journalists because the work report of the NPC Standing Committee was translated into English; the residences of all NPC delegations were made public; and it is for the first time that foreign journalists are allowed to directly interview NPC deputies and CPPCC members by appointment; the English versions of major draft laws have been made available. Full Story>>> WASHINGTONPOST: China looks to protect private property     China's legislature began examining a much-debated measure Thursday that is intended to help protect private property in an increasingly well-off society.     Although the Communist Party still believes the state owns all land, the growing economy has meant that private property "has been increasing with each passing day," the draft legislation states, adding that the protection of that property is the "urgent demand of the people."     As with many laws in China, the property measure -- expected to pass by the end of the session March 16 -- could prove difficult to enforce. AP: China to focus on helping poor     Chinese leaders are trying to improve energy efficiency to reduce both environmental damage and China's reliance on imported oil, which they see as a strategic weakness.     China is one of the world's biggest consumers of oil and coal, and uses several times as much energy per unit of economic output as the United States, Japan and other countries. CNN: China seeks to cure social unrest     Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday pledged greater support for education and health care over the next year and said the government would tackle sources of social unrest such as environmental problems, land seizures and privatization of state industries.     Wen and other Chinese leaders have promised repeatedly to close a growing gap between China's rich and poor, which they worry threatens political stability and the ruling party's hold on power. China's good corporate citizens find their voice     For years, China has been subjected to sharp foreign criticism about conditions in its factories amid claims that its cheap exports come at the expense of the environment and workers' safety and pay.     In recent months the debate has taken a twist, with an increasing number of similar charges levelled from inside China, by officials and quasi-government industry bodies concerned about an export backlash. Foreign media pay great attention to China's NPC, CPPCC sessions     Foreign media have paid great attention to the annual full sessions of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).     Asia News Time in Thailand issued a commentary on Monday, saying that with the deepening of China's opening-up reform and rapid economic development, the NPC and the CPPCC are playing a more and more important role in China's political life. China's efforts to add more female legislators extolled by ROK     A group of visiting female lawmakers from the Republic of Korea on Thursday lauded China's plan to elect more women as deputies to the 11th National People's Congress (NPC ), or parliament, in 2007.    The proportion of female NPC deputies will be raised to no less than 22 percent from the current 20.24 percent in the tenth NPC if a draft resolution on deputy election for next year's 11th NPC is approved by legislators at the ongoing tenth NPC annual session. Global attention granted to two annual NPC, CPPCC sessions       Two annual sessions have become increasingly open to the outside world in recent years. To a large number of reporters from overseas, they resemble more like an "international convention" this year, as the work report of the NPC has been interpreted in English for the first time, residences of the delegations of NPC deputies have been made known for the first time, and foreign reporters are also given direct access to deputies whom they would like to contact, and the English editions of major vital draft laws have also been available for the first time.

Procedures for making proposals and motions at the NPC  Major functions, rights of the NPC NPC organizational structure Organizations of CPPCC   Major functions of CPPCC People's congress system Draft Schedule for the Fifth Session of the Tenth NPC