China postpones annual session of Parliament

China, in an unprecedented move, today postponed the annual session of Parliament scheduled to begin in Beijing from the 5th of next month due to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak. The move comes as the country grapples with the deadly virus that has claimed over 2,500 lives and infected more than 77,000 people.

The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) showcases its political clout in the annual Parliament session.

The state media reported that the country's top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing and approved a draft decision on postponing the NPC's annual session due to Coronavirus.

The CPC considers the sessions as a significant political event to adopt its national agenda, including the annual budgets and formulate new



laws.

State-run Global Times quoted Chinese analysts saying that the postponement of the two sessions is very unusual in the history of the Party, which has not been seen since the country's reform and opening-up.

Meanwhile, the China-World Health Organization (WHO) joint expert team visited Hubei Province, epicentre of the 'COVID-19' outbreak over the weekend to conduct field investigations.

In another important development, the state media also reported that China has declared an immediate and comprehensive ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the deadly outbreak.

Chinese health officials have said the virus likely emerged from a market in the central city of Wuhan that sold wild animals as food.