China’s legislature, the National People's Congress, opens its important annual session in Beijing today (Monday) with proposed constitution amendment to lift the limit of two consecutive terms for the president and vice president dominating the agenda. 

Radio Pakistan’s special correspondent Javed Khan Jadoon reports from Beijing that about 3000 NPC deputies will deliberate upon a draft constitutional revision at the session.  

The changes would allow president Xi to extend his rule beyond two terms and possibly for life. Xi Jinping was appointed the leader of the Communist party in 2012. 

Apart from undertaking constitution amendment the National People's Congress will appoint Vice President and a number of Cabinet ministers and other top officials of state organs.  

The spokesman for the National People’s Congress Zhang Yesui has defended the constitution amendment saying that it was necessary to ensure the unity of Xi's three top positions as president, leader of the Communist Party and head of the Central Military Commission.  

In a news briefing in Beijing, he asserted that the the move was conducive to uphold the authority of the Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core.