China has banned many flights within 200 kilometers of Beijing during the upcoming annual NPC and CPPCC sessions out of security concern.

The ban from March 2 to 19 is within a 200-kilometer radius of the Tiananmen Square where the two sessions will be held, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday.

In a circular issued to public security bureaus in Beijing and its adjacent provincial-level areas including Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and Shandong, the ministry ordered a suspension on "approving and organizing flying activities in sport events or for entertainment and advertising purposes." Police must get to know the number and condition of the model airplanes, motor and para-gliders, as well as small private planes in their jurisdiction, and act quickly to spot unregistered aircraft, the ministry said.

According to the circular, balloons bobbing from strings tied to the ground are also strictly banned in various activities.

The first session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the first session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open on March 5 and March 3 respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2008)