No fewer than 64 CPPCC delegates argued that such firms should be put on a par with their state-owned counterparts.

CNN: A New, Slimmer Government

Retired basketball star Yao Ming, who is attending his first CPPCC session, says the market should support popular sports like tennis, basketball and football.

BBC: China media: Two sessions

The Beijing News also welcomes calls by CPPCC and NPC deputies to quit smoking and remove ashtrays from meeting halls or at least smoke outside.

BBC: China media: Death of Chavez

Since the CPPCC's annual session began on 3 March, about one-tenth of roughly 5, 000 proposals submitted concern environmental protection, including plans to tackle severely polluted groundwater, China Daily reports.

BBC: China media: Tension over North Korea

Beijing Times says the annual "two sessions" of the NPC and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a national advisory body, next week will cut back on conference expenses and require senior delegates to take coaches rather than private cars.

BBC: China media: Mekong justice