Investors from both China and abroad are looking for policy indications at China's annual "two sessions" during which political, economic and livelihood issues about the world's second-largest economy will be discussed.
The Fifth Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, opened in Beijing on Saturday.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will outline priorities for the government's agenda in a government work report to be delivered on Monday, when the annual session of the nation's top legislature, the National People's Congress, will begin.
Following are the performance of China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index during the annual "two sessions" in the past six years:
The year of 2011: China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 18.9 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,937.63 points during the "two sessions;"
The year of 2010: The key Shanghai index lost 60.69 points, or 1.97 percent, to 3,013.41 points during the "two sessions;"
The year of 2009: The key Shanghai index climbed 81.54 points, or 3.98 percent, to 2,128.75 points during the "two sessions;"
The year of 2008: The key Shanghai index plunged 654.8 points, or 15.14 percent, to 3,668.90 points during the "two sessions;"
The year of 2007: The key Shanghai index gained 102.8 points, or 3.64 percent, to 2,930.48 points during the "two sessions;"
The year of 2006: The key Shanghai index slid 25.57 points, or 1.99 percent, to 1,259.04 points during the "two sessions."