BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's national legislature started its annual session Friday morning. The opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China.

The third session of the 13th National People's Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Attendees pay a silent tribute to martyrs who died fighting COVID-19 and compatriots who lost their lives in the epidemic during the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

The third session of the 13th National People's Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The third session of the 13th National People's Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The third session of the 13th National People's Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress attend the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China observe the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Photographers work at the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)■