Beijing was still gripped by early-March cold as China’s annual “Two Sessions” meetings opened on March 4. Under near-freezing temperatures—with light rain and snow falling—large numbers of petitioners from across the country gathered before dawn near the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, commonly known as the National Petition Bureau.
Many said they had lined up overnight, hoping the start of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) top political meetings—the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress—might give them a rare chance to have their cases heard by central authorities.
For years, petitioners have traveled to Beijing during the Two Sessions, believing their grievances are more likely to draw attention when national leaders and officials are in the spotlight….
Petitioners Gather in Beijing Amid Cold Temps, Tight Security During China’s ‘Two Sessions’
