The upcoming annual national political sessions launched Sunday a press center.

The press center was established for the sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body. The two sessions will open on March 5 and March 3, respectively.

Located in the Media Center Hotel in downtown Beijing, the press center includes a press room, an interview room, an Internet interview room, a telecommunications room and a tea break room.

All registered journalists from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, and foreign journalists, will get access to the media center services, an official in charge of the press center said.

The official said that the staff members of the press center are ready, and they are currently preparing accreditation cards for journalists.

The press center will soon disseminate media contacts of different delegations.

The schedules of the sessions, information on press conferences and other activities will be available at www.npc.gov.cn/pc/11_5 for the NPC session, and www.cppcc.people.com.cn for the CPPCC session.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2012)