Last week, I interviewed Chen Jingyu, a leading lung transplant surgeon and legislator from Jiangsu province who is in Beijing for the annual two sessions. I wrote a story about how he has continued to perform operations during his stay in the capital.
As an economics reporter covering the two sessions, I have got used to the scenario of journalists bustling around and chasing ministers, economists and businesspeople for a brief interview. Such "chases" happen so often that I had developed the illusion that the top legislative and political advisory sessions were solely about economic issues.
Are fetuses entitled to property-inheritance rights? How can China protect people's personal information? And how will the nation chart its course over the coming year?
An unusual piece of futuristic reporting equipment that enables its operator to broadcast on 16 platforms at once certainly caught my eye at this year's two sessions.
Oftentimes, reporting on financial news seems far removed from the excitement of covering wars, politics or the drama and celebrity of the entertainment world.
Though the celebrity status of some of the nation's political advisers puts the two sessions in the media spotlight, what will last longer and have more power to inspire are their thoughts and suggestions. That's my main takeaway, when reflecting on the influence of advisers, as I cover the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for the fourth year.
As other reporters thronged the red carpet stretched from the north gate of the Great Hall of the People on Sunday, I followed Rehangul Emir to the east gate, the main entrance, on her way to attend her fifth annual session of the National People's Congress.
Each year, China's most-experienced reporters, armed with the best broadcasting equipment and latest multimedia technologies, cover the annual sessions of the top legislature and advisory body in Beijing.
As I checked in at a Beijing hotel the other day, my attention was caught by a massive world map on the wall behind the reception desk. What struck me was not its size, but the fact it was different from the maps I'd seen displayed in Europe.
The annual two sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are underway, and for journalists it's time to ask, know, understand and remind.
