After the arrival of deputies from northern Inner Mongolia by train at 7:15 am in the morning as the first group of NPC deputies to come to Beijing, deputies from northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region arrived by air at midday.

Meanwhile, deputies from other areas, including the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, also in northwest China, southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwestern China's Yunnan province, have also reached Beijing either by train or plane by press time.

The moment they stepped onto the soil of the Chinese capital, the NPC deputies were soon followed after by awaiting journalists and, by virtue of their unique, gorgeous their ethnical costumes, deputies of ethnic minorities people were much sought after by busy cameramen.

Many deputies have arrived with a host of well-prepared motions and proposals concerning the life of local people in the areas they represent as well as economic development and other major issues of the state.

Wu Jinliang, a deputy from Inner Mongolia, said that he had brought a couple of motions on the improvement of ecology in his area and voiced the hope that they would arouse attention from the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council.

The first session of the 10th NPC is scheduled to officially begin on Mar. 5. More than 2,900 NPC deputies from all walks of life around China would discuss state affairs and elect new state leaders at the session in the following weeks.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2003)