BEIJING, March 5 (AFP) - China has spent 10 million yuan (1.5 million dollars) on computers for thousands of members of an advisory body attending the annual parliamentary session -- in an effort to reduce paper waste.

The 2,000-plus delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference -- from Mao Zedong's grandson to former Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang -- received a free Lenovo laptop worth 5,000 yuan (730 dollars).

Delegates to the CPPCC, which convened on Wednesday, two days before the National People's Congress, can keep the laptops after the 10-day session finishes, the Guangzhou Daily said.

Other CPPCC delegates include film director Zhang Yimou and the Panchen Lama, China's controversial choice as the second-highest Buddhist leader for Tibet.