It followed the final session of the 8th National People's Congress.

This was the first congress in which deputies were elected representing the Hong Kong SAR and the new directly administered city of Chongqing.

Elections were held from October 1997 to February 1998 by the 22 provincial and 5 autonomous regional legislatures, as well as the city legislatures of the four directly administered municipalities, which elected their deputies to the NPC.

The 1999 Amendments to the People's Republic of China Constitution were adopted by on March 15, 1999.

[2] The People's Liberation Army budget increased 12.8% in 1999 compared to the prior year, marking the Congress' continued interest in military modernization.