New laws relating to farm products quality and safety, passports and many other important documents were adopted at the five-day 21st session of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress which concluded Saturday in Beijing.?

 

The law on the quality and safety of farm products will take effect on November 1 and the passport legislation on January 1, 2007.

 

The standing committee, with more than 150 members, also approved many other important documents regarding China's international relations. These included the country's adherence to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, an extradition treaty between China and Brazil, treaties on criminal matters and extradition between China and Spain and the treaty on criminal matters between China and France.

 

The legislature adopted a resolution on enhancing legal education and another to appoint Su Yong the President of the Military Court of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

 

Wu Bangguo, China's top legislator, presided over the meeting. In his closing remarks he spoke of the need to enhance the country's innovation capacity and implement the concept of scientific development. He said this would improve the structure of the economy, conserve resources and reduce consumption.

 

At the conclusion of the session, Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, gave a lecture on the need to build an innovation-oriented country.

 

He said, "Only by building an innovation-oriented country can we maintain stable and fast economic growth, continue our comprehensive, coordinated, sustainable economic and social development and be competitive internationally.”

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2006)