Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the Fifth Plenary Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) gives a press conference in the Great Hall of the People, ahead of the session's opening in Beijing on March 4.  [Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

China said Sunday it plans to raise its defense budget by 11.2 percent to 670 billion yuan ($106.4 billion) in 2012.

The year's draft defense budget is 67.6 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) more than that of 2011, said Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the annual session of China's national legislature.

"The Chinese government follows the principle of coordinating defense development with economic development. It sets the country's defense spending according to the requirement of national defense and the level of economic development," Li said.

Highlight of the conference

Law amendment to balance human rights protection

The draft amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law, to be submitted for final review and voting, highlights the principle of protecting human rights and punishing criminals as a whole, said a spokesman in Beijing Sunday. [Full text]

Reform and opening up pose opportunities, challenges

China's reform and opening up are always seen as a strong driving force for social and economic development and the country now faces new opportunities and challenges, a spokesman for the top legislature said Sunday. [Full text]

Mainland to crack down illegal birth trip to HK

The public security departments of Chinese mainland have stepped up efforts to crack down on the illegal activities of organizing mainland pregnant women to give births in Hong Kong,legislative spokesman Li Zhaoxing said here Sunday. [Full text]