China's 'Two Sessions' political gathering opens in Beijing

China began the first of its "Two Sessions" political meetings on Wednesday, a grand political theatre during which it will outline its annual growth target and defense budget, as well as its roadmap for the next five years.

President Xi Jinping is overseeing a week of political meetings in Beijing's Great Hall. China's 15th Five-Year Plan will be the showpiece of the annual Two Sessions political gathering, which opened with the start of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body.

Premier Li Qiang will open the second of the two meetings -- the National People's Congress (NPC) -- on Thursday, during which he will outline key growth targets for the world's second-largest economy. The NPC, the national legislature, will also enact laws on childcare services, social assistance and medical insurance, a spokesperson said.