Fu withholds China's defense budget

NPC Spokesperson Fu Ying did not release China's defense budget for 2013 at a press conference on the eve of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

Monday marked the first time the congress spokesperson did not reveal the budget figures at the NPC's opening press briefing. The official figures will be released Tuesday, Fu said.

Fu, China's vice-foreign minister and the NPC's first female spokesperson, said the number of female deputies rose to 699 in 2013, which is 62 more than there were at the 11th NPC in 2012.

The number of deputies representing industrial workers and farmers rose about 5 percent, to 155, since a year earlier, Fu said.

The NPC has 2,987 deputies.

The NPC National Committee's new leadership will be elected at the upcoming legislative session. Members will also present to lawmakers a government reorganization plan that targets bureaucracy in the economy.

Fu also answered questions from both Chinese and foreign journalists.

Reportor: Huan CAO & Zhang Xiao

Video: Huan CAO & Zhang Xiao

Voiceover: Chris Clark

Producer: Flora Yue