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China may delay annual meeting of parliament due to virus outbreak

06 February 2020 09:35 (UTC +04:00)

China is considering delaying the annual meeting of its top legislative body, five people familiar with the matter said, as it grapples with a coronavirus epidemic that has forced drastic curtailment of travel and other activity to curb its spread, APA reports citing Reuters.

The National People’s Congress (NPC), made up of about 3,000 delegates, typically gathers for a session lasting at least 10 days in Beijing, beginning on March 5, to pass legislation and unveil key economic targets for the year.

“The focus remains on taking steps forward towards meeting on schedule, but we are discussing a range of options as the (virus) situation doesn’t look likely to be contained by March,” a senior government official said, declining to be identified given the sensitivity of the matter.

“A delay is one of those options,” the official said.

China’s State Council Information Office and the NPC media center did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment.