The draft plan for national economic and social development for the 2006-2010 period proposes two trunk lines for oil, one running from the west to the east and the other from the north to south, a second west-east gas pipeline, and a pipeline "for oil and natural gas import" into the country's inland areas. These proposals are being discussed during the current assembly of the National People's Congress (NPC). China will develop its oil and gas network in the next five years to offset the energy shortfalls in some areas caused by "imbalanced geographical distribution", the draft plan said. The annual full session of the Chinese parliament opened in Beijing on Sunday morning, with the presence of more than 2900 deputies from all over the country.