The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) started its annual session on Thursday. Due to COVID-19, the meeting was postponed from March to May, and the session was also shortened. These days technology can bring the deliberations closer to the public. 

Click here for a replay of the CPPCC opening session:

Special program on 2020 Two Sessions - Members' Corridor and opening session of China's top political advisory body

One day ahead of the session, the National Committee of the CPPCC held its first online press conference on Wednesday, at which spokesperson Guo Weimin and other officials took questions from journalists via real-time streaming by 5G wireless technology. 

Speaking of the 5G, CGTN has also adopted the contactless eyeglasses for news coverage. 

The eyewear displays information in a hands-free format that helps save time and provides protection amid COVID-19 epidemic.  

According to a State Council executive meeting, China is adopting new ways of receiving proposals and suggestions from national legislators and political advisors, including via video-link, phone calls and the internet.  

Officials of relevant State Council departments are also asked to tune in live to the deliberations of the government work report by lawmakers via video. 

Read more:

CPPCC member on AI in times of COVID-19

Moreover, the website of the CPPCC National Committee started to seek opinions and suggestions from netizens on May 8, which helped the 2,100 national political advisers to hear more voices of the public before they gathered in Beijing.  

Meanwhile, government officials who used to sit in on meetings during political advisory sessions as non-voting participants, are able to hear comments and suggestions by video link, telephones and the internet.  

The CPPCC is neither a body of state power nor a policy-making organ, serving as an advisory body for the National People's Congress.

But the country's top political advisory body can gain substantial influence to shape public opinion through the internet and mobile technology providing the public with social media distribution and influence.

Reporter: Wang Mengjie 

Cameraman and editor: Zheng Songwu 

Copy Editors: Liane Ferreira, Bertram Niles 

Cover photo: Yu Peng 

Chief Editor: Chen Ran, Xu Jian 

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei