Reporter's Diary: A Washington reporter's first time at the NPC

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It was history unfolding, in a historic setting.

I was one of a crowd of journalists, who filed into the Great Hall of the People in Beijing early Monday morning to watch the 2,980 delegates of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) open its session.

These are the people who will review new measures, that will guide China in the coming year, and have a big say in how this nation of 1.4 billion will interact with other nations around the world.

Before the session began, 10 delegates made their way through a roped-off area ringed by legions of cameras and reporters – it is called Delegates' Corridor.

It is a chance for the delegates to brief the media, about what they can expect to see in the coming days.

Among the delegates we spoke to are Pony Ma – founder and CEO of Tencent, and Wang Yaping – a national hero in China. Wang is an astronaut and has gone from being in outer space to the inner workings of the Great Hall of the People.

A delegate from Fujian Province in traditional clothing. /CGTN Photo

Much of the early morning for us was consumed with jostling for position for our live shots.

Everyone of course wants the best shot, and the Delegates' Corridor is only so big – you have to be vigilant to keep your place. Turn your back for a second and someone will squeeze you out of the frame.

But looking around the ornate hall, one has to at times be consumed with all the history that has unfolded there.

I spent part of the morning looking at the various badge colors, and wondering what they all meant.

Only later did I learn “green” is for foreign media, and “yellow” is for domestic. Mine was yellow by the way.

This year, some 25 percent of all the delegates are women, an increase from previous years.

There were some delegates, like a woman I met from Fujian who came adorned in a traditional outfit. She is here to work, but was very patient and posed for many pictures.

But what the journalists all really came to hear, was the work report from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

CGTN eporter Sean Callebs is ready to do a live shot with media crowded all around in front of the Delegates' Corridor. /CGTN Photo

It calls for continued economic growth at about 6.5 percent – something leaders in many nations can only dream of reaching.

There are also calls to further alleviate abject poverty in China – hundreds of millions have already been lifted out of the lowest of the lows economically. The challenge now is to “go the last mile.”

Journalists also pored over another work report – on preventing financial risks.

And, all of us who saw the blue sky peek out from behind the Great Hall of the People this morning can relate to China’s continued effort to improve air quality, not just in Beijing but all over the nation.

Eventually a crisp, cool morning gave way to comfortable temperatures in the afternoon and Monday’s opening of the NPC wound down.

In the end, it was over too soon for me.

It was fascinating to be in the Great Hall and watch China’s political process play out.

Ministers and delegates who each year seem more comfortable being in front of cameras and microphones, knowing they will be held accountable for each success – and areas that fall short of this year’s goals.