The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, held a press conference on Thursday, one day ahead of the opening of its annual session.

Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th NPC, took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters on the agenda of the session and work of the NPC via video link.

NPC will open its session to convene from March 5 to 11, Zhang said. 

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Agenda of fourth session of 13th National People's Congress

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Support of COVID-19 vaccine

Chinese government has and continues to provide vaccine assistance to over 60 countries in need, Zhang said, noting that 17 Chinese COVID-19 vaccines are in clinical trial, four of which have been put into emergency use or have entered the market in a number of countries, and China is providing vaccines to over 60 countries and 10 million doses to the World Health Organisation's COVAX program.

China's effort to promote international cooperation against COVID-19 is not driven by any geopolitical agenda. It aims to protect more people's lives, safety and health, Zhang told the press conference. 

China calls for more countries who have the capacity to provide vaccines to other countries, especially developing countries, to do so, he said. 

Responsibility to improve HKSAR electoral system

Calling the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) an important part of its political structure, Zhang said what happened in recent years has proven the need to improve the system in line with the times in order to provide a sound institutional guarantee to fully and faithfully implement "One Country, Two Systems" and fully implement the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong."

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, has the power and responsibility to make a decision at the constitutional level to improve the electoral system of HKSAR, he said. 

The NPC will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR during the upcoming session, according to the agenda.