China's Legislative Work Improved

The legislative work of China's top legislature was strengthened and improved in 2011 at a new standing point, said a spokesman here Sunday.

The new standing point was marked by the establishment of a socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics by the end of 2010, said Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference.

The system of laws is based on the conditions and reality of China, meets the needs of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive, and reflects the will of the Chinese people, said Li, citing a white paper issued in last October.

In 2011, the Standing Committee of the NPC has revised the Individual Income Tax Law, the Military Service Law, the Resident Identity Card Law, the Law on Occupational Illness Prevention and Control, the Coal Law, the Construction Law, the Road Traffic Safety Law and the Clean Production Promotion Law, Li said.

Li highlighted the adoption of the eighth amendment to the Criminal Law and the deliberation on a draft amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law, which is scheduled to be submitted to the upcoming NPC session.

In the meantime, the Standing Committee has deliberated on and adopted new laws, including the Law on Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Law on Vehicle and Vessel Taxation and the Administrative Coercion Law, Li said.

The committee has also adopted several legislative explanations and decisions on various issues, as well as supervisory efforts on relevant authorities on the enforcement of laws, he added.

Li particularly noted that the NPC and its Standing Committee will strengthen legislative work on cultural issues in the future and work hard to revise laws that no longer suit the pace of economic and social development.

Moreover, Li also briefed the work relating to NPC deputies' motions and suggestions submitted during the previous session of the NPC.

Deputies had put forward 566 motions and 8,043 suggestions, Li said, noting that those suggestions had been referred to 177 departments or agencies and had received replies.

Li said that, so far, about 77.2 percent of the issues raised had either been resolved or are on their way towards resolution.

"The majority of the NPC deputies are satisfied or basically satisfied with the handling of their motions or suggestions," Li added.