On the afternoon of 24 February, the 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) adopted a decision on postponing the third annual session of the 13th NPC.

In view of the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the need to implement the major decisions of the CPC Central Committee on coordinating epidemic control and economic and social development, as well as the imperative to continue effective epidemic control to protect the life and health of the people, the 16th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee decided to postpone the third annual session of the 13th NPC as appropriate, and the opening of the session shall be decided by the Standing Committee at another time.