Two Sessions Attract Reporters from Emerging Economies

News media from developing countries are showing a marked interest in issues that will be discussed during China's upcoming parliamentary sessions, officials and reporters said.

China's rapidly growing economy and its rising global influence have trained the spotlight on the upcoming sessions, which will map out this year's economic and social development plan for the world's second largest economy, said Zhu Shouchen, deputy director of the sessions' press center.

One prominent feature of this year's media coverage is the large number of journalists sent by Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa, said Zhu, adding that Russia alone has registered 51 reporters.

John Bailey, a reporter from South Africa's ETV, said many developing countries are closely watching China, as they face many of the same challenges as China in their own development.

China's status as a hot spot for global growth makes it important for the country's economy to continue expanding, Bailey said.

"South Africa has a lot of resources, and as long as China's economy keeps expanding, we can export more resources to China," Bailey said.

China's GDP growth slowed to 9.2 percent in 2011, down from 10.3 percent the year before, but is still considered a robust figure in the sluggish world economy. The upcoming sessions are expected to result in the announcement of China's future economic policies and reforms.

This year's sessions of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, will open on March 5 and March 3, respectively.