The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC, and Li Zhanshu presided over the meeting. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

BEIJING -- The national legislature opened its annual session Saturday morning in Beijing.

Xi Jinping arrives for the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

Chinese leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), held at the Great Hall of the People.

Li Zhanshu, executive chairperson of the presidium for the session, presided over the meeting.

Premier Li Keqiang delivered a government work report on behalf of the State Council to the legislature for deliberation.

In his report, the premier reviewed the government work in 2021, and introduced the overall requirements and policy orientation for economic and social development in 2022.

Hailing the year of 2021 as a milestone, the premier said that the country worked hard as one and once again secured new and major achievements in its development in the past year in the face of complicated and challenging circumstances both in and outside of China, as well as many risks and challenges.

"While recognizing our achievements, we are also very clear about the problems and challenges before us," he said, stressing the need to face problems and challenges squarely, and do the utmost to live up to people's expectations.

A raft of targets were set for the country's development in 2022 in the government work report, including a GDP growth of around 5.5 percent, more than 11 million new urban jobs, and a consumer price index increase of around 3 percent.

The report also listed major tasks for 2022, including achieving stable macroeconomic performance, maintaining job security, deepening reform, and expanding high-level opening-up.

NPC deputies reviewed the report on the implementation of the 2021 plan and on the 2022 draft plan for national economic and social development, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2022; the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2021 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2022, and the draft central and local budgets for 2022.

Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, expounded a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, which has been submitted to national lawmakers for review.

Wang also delivered an explanatory speech on a draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election.

In accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws, the election of deputies to the 14th NPC shall be completed in January 2023 before the incumbent 13th NPC deputies finish their term of office in March 2023, Wang said.

Wang also explained draft methods for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR to elect their deputies to the 14th NPC.

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

Premier Li Keqiang delivers a government work report at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

Li Zhanshu presides over the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, speaks at the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2022. At the meeting, Wang delivered explanatory speeches on a draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, a draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election, a draft method for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to elect deputies to the 14th NPC, and a draft method for the Macao Special Administrative Region to elect deputies to the 14th NPC. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Gao Jie]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Xing Guangli]

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Li Xin]

Journalists work during the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Jin Liwang]

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Xing Guangli]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

The military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army performs during the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Lu Ye]

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China observe the opening meeting of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2022. [Xinhua/Jin Liwang]