Journalists from home and abroad are welcome to cover the annual two sessions of China's top legislature and top political advisory body, the general officials of both bodies said on Friday.

The second session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5, and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, is set to begin in the capital on March 4.

News coverage of the two sessions will be carried out mainly through face-to-face or on-site reporting, with permission of some other means, according to the statement jointly issued by the general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee.

The other means, in general, include online video links and written forms.

A media center for the reception of journalists and the arrangement of interviews during the two sessions will be open from Feb 27, the statement said.

All journalists who want to cover the sessions should submit applications for approval.

China-based foreign journalists who want to cover the two sessions should submit their applications to the press center, while those not based in China should apply to Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries or via visa organizations authorized by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Those from Hong Kong and Macao should apply at the central government's liaison offices in their respective administrative regions, and journalists from Taiwan should apply to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The deadline for applications is Feb 18. More information about the two sessions is available on www.npc.gov.cn and www.cppcc.gov.cn.