The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) begins in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, kicking off the country's annual legislative meetings known as the "lianghui" or "Two Sessions". President Xi Jinping and delegates from around the country convene for the session of the advisory body ahead of the rubber stamp National People's Congress (NPC) beginning on Sunday. The group's members -- who have included many of China's most famous celebrities, such as Yao Ming and Jackie Chan -- receive a lot of attention at home, but its discussions are relatively low stakes: representatives provide lawmakers with policy suggestions that, more often than not, have little impact on national policy. IMAGES