Fu Ying, spokesperson for the fifth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2017. The fifth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING -- China will raise its defense budget by around 7 percent this year, a spokesperson for the annual session of the country's top legislature said Saturday, compared to last year's 7.6 percent.

At a press conference a day before the National People's Congress (NPC) convenes its yearly meeting, spokesperson Fu Ying said China's defense spending will remain around 1.3 percent of the country's GDP.

Fu Ying (R), spokesperson for the fifth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), arrives for a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2017. The fifth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Fu Ying (C, rear), spokesperson for the fifth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2017. The fifth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

The press conference on the fifth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2017. The fifth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)