Law makers from across China began arriving in Beijing yesterday for the annual parliament session that is widely considered a "test run" for the Olympic host city ahead of the Games.

The First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which open on Wednesday and today respectively, will put to the test Beijing's environment, traffic and public services as well as the government's capacity in dealing with emergencies.

The annual event comes in the wake of the worst winter weather for 50 years and the Beijing Games are just five months away. Personnel changes, government reshuffles and a wide range of issues concerning the interests of the people are high on its agenda.

From the NPC deputies and political advisers to men in the street, the whole nation is hoping the "Two Sessions" will address the consumer price index, housing, medical services, education, social security, corruption and many other issues faced by China in its drive to be a harmonious and moderately prosperous society.

The parliament session has attracted widespread attention from the public even before its opening, with their participation in online polls on the proposed focal points of the meetings as well as messages and proposals the public wishes to convey to Premier Wen Jiabao. Xinhuanet.com's "I have a question for the Premier" page, had received more than 60,000 postings by yesterday, ranging from national economic growth and environment woes to better social welfare.

"I hope the NPC will draft a new law to ensure a basic allowance for handicapped people, so their aging parents won't have to be laden with debts," reads a posting by a mother who looks after a handicapped son.

One Internet user in Jiangxi Province complained of the relocation of polluting enterprises from cities to the countryside. "These businesses, mostly mines, brickyards and small iron mills, will seriously contaminate the air and water in the rural areas," he said.

This year's "Two Sessions" will be more transparent with name lists of the NPC deputies and political advisers published on the Internet, along with details of their proposals and development of the sessions.

Beijing has been working hard to improve the environment, one of the biggest worries overshadowing the forthcoming Olympics. The city has provided environment-friendly buses for deputies to take them from their hotels to the Great Hall of the People where the meetings will be held.

The Beijing Meteorological Bureau said the bureau is to provide more precise forecasts and analysis, a spokesman said.