BEIJING — The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, mulled postponing its annual session as related matters were studied when its Chairperson's Council met on Feb 17.

The third session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee was originally planned to open on March 3 in Beijing. Preparations for the session have been made, said the general office of the CPPCC National Committee in a statement.

It is now a crucial moment for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, so no effort should be spared, it read.

Many of the CPPCC members, especially those from the medical and health circles, are fighting on the front line of the epidemic battle.

The Chairperson's Council studied matters related to postponing the annual session in order to implement the overall plan of the Communist Party of China Central Committee for epidemic prevention and control and ensure that people's lives and health are put as the top priority.

According to the Charter of the CPPCC and relevant rules, the CPPCC National Committee meets in plenary session once a year. The proposal to postpone the session needs to be made by the Chairperson's Council after study.

Chairperson's Council meeting on Feb 17 also studied matters related to postponing the 10th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, which was originally scheduled to be held on Feb 28 and 29.

In addition, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will meet in late February to deliberate a draft decision on postponing the NPC's annual session. This was proposed at a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee Feb 17.

Dubbed the "two sessions," the annual sessions of the top political advisory body and the top legislature are considered a key political event in China.

The postponed annual session of the top political advisory body will embody the overall epidemic prevention and control arrangements made by the Party and the State and further rally support for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the statement read.