Deputies to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, applaud while listening to a government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening of their annual session in Beijing on March 5.

The session, which is scheduled to conclude on March 13, outlines China's development program for 2009 and approves the state budget to support the country's counter-crisis measures.

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top advisory body, also opened its annual session in Beijing on March 3.