“两会”并不是一个特定的机构名称，而是对自1978年以来历年召开的中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会和中国人民政治协商会议的统称。

由于两场会议会期基本重合，而且对于国家运作的重要程度都非常高，故简称“两会”。

The "two sessions" is not a specific institutional name. The term "two sessions" refers to the yearly plenary meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) - China's top legislative body and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - the top political advisory body.

They are held every year, beginning in 1978. Since the sessions basically coincide and are very important to the operation of the country, they are called "two sessions" for short.

不同于西方国家的两院制、多党制，中国的权力配置有着明显的区别。

Different from the bicameral and multi-party systems in Western countries, China has its own political system.

全国人大是中国最高国家权力机关，地方人民代表大会是地方国家权力机关。

The NPC is the highest organ of state power in China, while local people's congresses at all levels are local agencies of state power.

一年一度的各级人民代表大会会议，从乡、县、市、省、全国自下而上、逐级召开，向上传递民众意愿。

The annual people's congresses are first held from the grassroots upwards at township, county, city, and provincial levels and finally at the highest national level, so that the people's wants and needs are reported to higher levels.

每年两会上，全国人大代表共同讨论国家发展大计和民生热点问题，党和国家领导人当面倾听意见建议。

During the two sessions each year, NPC deputies gather in the presence of the Party and state leaders to discuss plans for national development and problems affecting people's lives.

人大代表提出的议案、建议，各国家机关会认真研究，许多被吸纳进政策决策中。

Many of the motions and proposals put forward by the deputies have been carefully reviewed and then included into policy decisions of state organs.

然而，中国并非一党专政。中国的基本政治制度之一是中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度。中国人民政治协商会议就是其重要机构。

But China's political system is not a system of one-party rule. One of China's basic political frameworks is the System of Multiparty Cooperation and Political Consultation Under CPC Leadership.

全国政协全体会议通常比全国人大会议提前1至2天召开。政协委员提交提案，参政议政。

The CPPCC National Committee usually takes place one to two days ahead of the NPC. Members offer proposals to participate in the deliberation and administration of State affairs.