Highlights: NPC spokesperson briefs media on 2019 session

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A press conference on the Second Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is being held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday.

The NPC, China's national legislature, will open its annual session on Tuesday at the hall and conclude on the morning of March 15, said the NPC spokesperson.

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Thousands of national lawmakers and political advisers are gathering in the capital for the annual "Two Sessions," a key event on China's political calendar.

Here are some highlights of the news briefing:

Sino-U.S. relations

China's top legislature National People's Congress briefs media on the upcoming annual session in Beijing, March 4, 2019. /VCG Photo

When talking about Sino-U.S. relations, NPC spokesperson Zhang Yesui said that China and the U.S. have generally maintained stable relations and made historic progress over the past 40 years.

"Cooperation is the best option for the two sides," he said. "Maintaining a stable China-U.S. relationship has delivered enormous benefits to the peoples of the two countries and promoted peace, stability and development around the world as well."

Zhang also mentioned China-U.S. trade negotiations, saying that the most important thing for the two countries is to follow the agreement reached by the two leaders during the G-20 summit in Argentina last year in order to keep the bilateral relations on the right track.

Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula

U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un hold their second one-on-one meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel in Hanoi on Feb. 28, 2019. / VCG Photo

He also clarified China's stance on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

"China hopes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the U.S. will continue talks and stick to a political solution to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue," said Zhang.

"China has played a constructive role in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and will continue to make positive efforts in China's own way to solve the Korean Peninsular issue."

Performance of NPC on carrying out supervision responsibility

The Standing Committee of the 13th NPC exercises supervisory duties in accordance with the law and has achieved positive results, according to the spokesperson.

Zhang made the remarks while answering a question from CCTV about the Standing Committee of 13th NPC's performance on carrying out the supervision responsibility, saying they have effectively acted on major decisions to support fighting "three tough battles" against risk, poverty and pollution.

"Enforcement and inspections are among priorities of NPC's work in 2018," added Zhang.

Belt and Road Initiative

A China-Europe freight train departs from Xuzhou, east China, for Moscow, Russia, January 18, 2019. / VCG Photo

"In 2018 alone, 67 countries signed cooperation documents with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, and up to 152 countries and international organizations have signed such documents up to now," said Zhang.

China's defense spending

"China's limited defense spending, which is for safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, poses no threat to other countries."

China's draft foreign investment law

China's draft foreign investment law will be submitted to the plenary session of the NPC on March 8 and put to a vote on March 15, according to Zhang.

Click here for more about the "Two Sessions":

https://www.cgtn.com/2019-two-sessions

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(Top image: NPC spokesperson Zhang Yesui briefs the media on the upcoming NPC annual meeting at a press conference in Beijing, China, March 4, 2019./ VCG Photo)