Same-sex marriage, environmental issues, film censorship, research on artificial intelligence, sexual assaults, corruption, abuse, and a whole gamut of pressing issues have been raised by delegates of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in its annual session.

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Two days before the opening of the main legislative session, the more than 2,000 CPPCC members had the chance to push for their own agenda and float their ideas to the media.

As the advisory body of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), the country's parliament, the CPPCC committee memberships include not only the experts and the people in the academe but also the top 21 richest people in China, actors like Jackie Chan, celebrities, filmmakers and even NBA superstar, Yao Ming.

The roster of celebrity-members helps attract media coverage on the annual meeting.

Although frequently dubbed as the 'rubber stamp parliament' as it has always been known to' ratify all bills proposed by the government, this year's CPPCC session provides a rare chance for some daring members to petition and raise issues of their own while those in the media take up the cudgels for the ordinary citizens and push for their concerns and well-being.

Despite the popularity of their delegates, their proposals, most of the time, have been repeatedly thumbed down in the past annual NPC legislative sessions.

Reports said that while Yao Ming succeeded in getting the NPC to ease the restrictions in the approval of conducting commercial sporting events, other advocates' issues have been largely ignored.

Cui Yongyuan, a famous Chinese television host, told reporters that his petition to ban genetically modified foods last year had fallen on deaf ears.

He said he was skeptical about the agricultural ministry's promise that they will tackle the issue this year.

Reports said environmental issues are most likely the highlight in the NPC annual sessions this year.

Building on the momentum of this issue, former state TV reporter Chai Jing has released a documentary on the impact of air pollution, which has gone viral on the Chinese internet this week.

Also, a new environmental protection law, which was passed this year, is set to be implemented while the head of the prestigious Tsinghua University has been named as the new Environmental czar.

Film director Wang Xingdong is renewing his call to the Chinese lawmakers to pass a law setting clear guidelines on film censorship, saying that Chinese movies fall behind par with their international rivals because Chinese film authorities immediately ban their movies depicting corruption in China on a whim and without any reasonable explanation.

The prelude to the legislative sessions also provides ordinary citizens a chance to voice out their concerns and personal issues with the delegates.

A father of a gay man has sent letters to some 1,000 delegates asking for the passage of a law allowing same-sex marriage and this was echoed by a delegate, Li Yinhe, a sociologist.

Another delegate proposed that the legislature criminalize gay men indulging in group sex to prevent HIV.

The annual legislative sessions continue to attract thousands of Chinese to the central government's petition office hoping that their grievances will be heard and their petitions tackled in the meeting.

A feminist called on the legislature to pass laws that will put a stop to sexual assaults on women and girls in schools and universities.

China has responded to the petition saying they will tackle the issue in the opening session.

The NPC's annual session will officially open Thursday with Premier Li Keqiang reporting on China's future plans and a summary of the past year's achievements.

TagsCPPCC, NPC, Li Keqiang, Yao Ming