NPC meetings may take the form of preliminary meetings, presidium meetings, plenary sessions of the full NPC, meetings of delegations and closed-door sessions.

According to the provisions of the Organic Law of the National People's Congress and the Rules of Procedure for the NPC, the Standing Committee provides the chair for preliminary meetings of the NPC. For example the meeting to prepare for the first plenary session of each new NPC is chaired by the Standing Committee of the outgoing NPC. The work of this preparatory meeting includes electing the Presidium and Secretary-General, adopting agendas and making the other arrangements necessary for the upcoming session of the NPC. Plenary sessions are chaired by the presiding chairman of the NPC session in which they fall.