China's "two sessions" - the annual meetings of the national legislature and the top political advisory body - are opening in Beijing.
The meetings are significant markers on the country's carefully choreographed political stage.
This year, the parliament is expected to rubberstamp major constitutional changes that will elevate the power of President Xi Jinping.
It will also confirm dropping China's two-term presidential limit.
That would mean Xi Jinping could stay in power for life, leading China according to his new ideological guidelines, known as "Xi Jinping Thought".