Roundup: China's top legislature convenes bimonthly session

China's top legislature started its bimonthly session Monday, with lawmakers to review the General Rules of Civil Law and an amendment to the Water Pollution Prevention Law, among others.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the opening meeting Monday morning.

According to the draft General Rules of Civil Law, which was submitted for a third reading, citizens can exercise their rights according to their own will and without interference.

The draft also stipulates that after the levying and requisition of real estate and personal property in the public interest, citizens should be justly and appropriately compensated.

The draft amendment to the Water Pollution Prevention Law, submitted for its first reading, strengthens monitoring and government responsibility, saying local governments should set time limits and make efforts to improve water quality, and be authorized to issue tougher pollutant control requirements for water quality.

A draft law on e-commerce, submitted to the top legislature for its first reading, aims to regulate the world's largest e-commerce market.

The draft law on traditional Chinese medicine, submitted for its third reading, says that the state will enhance support, innovation, application and development, as well as professional training in ethnic minority medicine.

Lawmakers will also review a draft decision to authorize the State Council to adjust the implementation of the Civil Servant Law, and draft measures for electing deputies to the 13th NPC in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

During the week-long session, the top legislature will review a draft national intelligence law targeting the safeguarding of national security and interests, according to minister of state security Chen Wenqing.

Also submitted for review is a draft law to improve the country's cultural service. It is the third reading of the draft, which includes an article saying the country should encourage and support international cooperation and exchange in the cultural service sector.

In addition, lawmakers will consider giving a greenlight to a pilot program combining maternity insurance and basic medical insurance in 12 Chinese cities, and a draft decision on temporary law adjustments as part of reforms to the military officers' system.

They will also decide whether to ratify a criminal judicial assistance treaty between China and Malaysia. Endi