China's legislature has shortened its upcoming annual session because of fewer items on its agenda, but not for avoiding "passive situations," a parliament spokesman said on Wednesday.

Li Zhaoxing, spokesman of the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress, made the remarks at a press conference when answering a journalist's question.

Both Li and the reporter did not elaborate what the "passive situations" referred to.

This year's NPC session is scheduled to start on Thursday and will last nine days, according to Li.

The schedule is five days fewer than last year's full session, during which a violent riot erupted in Lhasa, Tibet, on March 14, leaving 18 civilians and a policeman dead.

The parliamentary sessions in years without election and deliberation on major law amendment or approval used to last about 10 days.

"There is no such a consideration as you described as avoiding 'passive situations'," Li said. "Your question is an unnecessary worry. You can see so many journalists have come to the press conference, which shows that we are very frank and open," Li said.

Li said the session was shortened because there would be no such items as state leaders election on this year's agenda.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2009)