Xi Jinping (3rd L, front), Li Keqiang (3rd R, front), Zhang Dejiang (2nd L, front), Liu Yunshan (2nd R, front), Wang Qishan (1st L,front) and Zhang Gaoli (1st R, front) attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2016. [Xinhua]

Maintaining economic growth is expected to dominate China’s annual political high season.

On March 3, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, convened its annual meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

On March 5, the National People's Congress (NPC), the legislature, will begin its annual session.

Addressing 2,200 CPPCC members, Chairman Yu Zhengsheng invoked notions such as democracy and the rule of law in his 16-page work report, which also featured substantial references to economic issues.

China's economy expanded 6.9 percent year on year in 2015, the slowest in one fourth a century.

Yu said that 2016 is the first year of the final stage of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a crucial year for advancement of structural reform.

He urged CPPCC members to devote their main efforts to making suggestions and proposals related to the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan, a draft roadmap for national economy and social development from 2016 to 2020 which will be submitted to national lawmakers for review and approval in the next few days.

Explaining the proposals of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the five-year plan, General Secretary Xi Jinping said that annual growth of at least 6.5 percent would be required to reach China's goal to double its 2010 GDP and per capita income by 2020.

Innovation and environment are also poised to be included in the roadmap to sustain growth.

Within a reasonable range, China's growth is showing signs of improvement, such as better domestic demand and industrial structure as well as more balanced regional development.

The government raised its budget deficit to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2015, up from 2.1 percent in 2014.

The latest cut in the reserve requirement ratio for banks by 0.5 percentage point signals further monetary easing for creating pro-growth environment.

Yu also mentioned supply-side reform, an economic vehicle that has not often been resorted to by Chinese policymakers.

The CPPCC should "develop and follow the philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development," and adapt to the new normal in economic development, Yu said.

Besides economic growth discussions, NPC deputies are scheduled to deliberate on a draft charity law aimed to boost public trust.

Other topics in this NPC session would include state budgetary review, military spending and law enforcement.