Top legislature releases work plan for 2023

Proposals to focus on improving people's congress system, socialist market economy

A set of 37 legislative proposals has been planned for review and discussion next year, an official from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said on Monday.

"The proposals will focus on improving the people's congress system, building a high-level socialist market economy, implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and technology and promoting cultural construction," said Zang Tiewei, spokesman for the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

"The proposals will also cover the aspects of enhancing livelihoods, boosting sustainable development, strengthening social governance and advancing the legal system for national security," Zang said.

As required by the report presented to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on advancing overall governance, the commission has made the legislation plan to carry out lawmaking in a systematic, integrated, coordinated and timely manner, he added.

Zang emphasized that the plan will be improved and more details released after the NPC closes its annual plenary session next year. The meeting is normally held in Beijing every March.

This year, the legislature has formulated six new laws and amended nine others. It has also adopted seven decisions concerning legal or major social issues, Zang said, adding that 18 drafts and revisions are still being deliberated among lawmakers.

The year marked the 40th anniversary of the enactment of China's current Constitution.

"We have improved the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics — with the Constitution at its core — and established the NPC Constitution and Law Committee, as well as a Constitution office, under the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission to implement, supervise and interpret the law in a better way," Zang said.

Zang said Dec 4 has been named the National Constitution Day "to enhance people's legal awareness, with greater focus on reviewing normative documents — such as government regulations and judicial interpretations — to guarantee they are consistent with the Constitution".

According to an agenda that has been released, a report on the review of normative documents is ready to be submitted to a session of the NPC Standing Committee, which will convene from Tuesday to Friday in Beijing.

During the session, lawmakers will also discuss a draft revision to the Wildlife Protection Law and a draft law on ecological conservation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Zang said the draft amendment stipulates that people accused of damaging wildlife resources could face public-interest lawsuits and that the wildlife protection departments at the county level or above must take action if they find invasive species harming the local ecosystem.

Draft revisions to the Legislation Law, the Company Law and the Counter-Espionage Law, as well as a draft reservist law, are also set to be reviewed during the session, he added.