China's Legislature Ends Bimonthly Session

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Wednesday concluded its bimonthly session, adopting several decisions including one to amend the Law on the Promotion of Clean Production.

President Hu Jintao signed a presidential decree to promulgate the decision.

The amended law expands on what "appropriate packaging of products" means.

The amendments reiterate terms such as "resource conservation" and "efficiency," while previously the law only repeatedly mentioned "reduction of pollution."

The session also approved a decision to permit appropriate modification to the methods for selecting Macao's chief executive and forming its legislative council in accordance with the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Basic Law.

According to the decision, the current methods for selecting chief executive by an electoral committee and the current system of forming the legislative council of the Macao SAR with members either directly elected, indirectly elected or commissioned must be maintained.

However, with the premise of the current methods and system, measures regarding the selection of Macao's chief executive and the formation of its legislative council can be "appropriately modified" in accordance with the Macao SAR Basic Law.

Moreover, the NPC Standing Committee members voted and agreed to submit a draft agenda for the Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), that will open on March 5, to the preparatory meeting of the annual session for review.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, presided over the closing meeting.

The decision regarding to the methods for selecting Macao's chief executive and forming its legislative council is made in accordance with the current situation of the SAR and has paid due and comprehensive consideration to the diversified concerns and appeals of the Macao people, Wu said at the meeting.

The decision is expected to contribute to the long-term stability and development of Macao, he added.

Wu also called on the country's legislators to get prepared for the upcoming Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress.

Wu also presided over a lecture on the development of China's service industry held by the NPC Standing Committee on Wednesday afternoon.

Representatives attend the closing meeting of the 25th session of the 11th China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 29, 2012. Wu Bangguo (C, back), chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. [Xinhua]