Many people say prosperity is more important than the 'meaningless' annual meeting of minds in Beijing
Urban residents enjoying the nation's economic boom say they care little about the annual gathering of the National People's Congress as long as the government ensures an increasingly better standard of living.
From the highly politicised atmosphere of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, many people now have a different way of looking at the workings of the government.
A poll taken by state media before the legislative session showed that only half of respondents cared about current events.
Li Meiyan, a 27-year-old sales assistant at an upmarket clothing boutique in Beijing, gave a typical response.
'I really don't know much about the NPC. It is meaningless. I think that they should implement the policies discussed at the meetings and make more efforts to solve problems,' she said.