All eyes are on China as the country holds its most important political event of the year.

Journalists vie for a chance to ask questions at the news conference for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress. [Feng Yongbin / China Daily]

The annual full sessions of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and its advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, are underway. Better known as the "two sessions", the meeting will appoint top government officeholders and complete a once-in-a-decade leadership transition. The sessions will provide the future direction of Chinese politics and hints of what to expect from the new leadership. Policies formulated during the sessions will have significant impact on the world, analysts say. This year's "two sessions" will also map out concrete steps toward a "beautiful China", an initiative proposed by former CPC leader Hu Jintao in an agenda-setting report to the 18th CPC Congress, to balance the economy with the environment. China Daily photographers share some images of the past week.