A week-long campaign to improve the Chinese public's knowledge of the country's legal system was launched in Beijing on Monday with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo issuing an opening statement.

"Through proper education, the common people will be familiar with the laws that are relevant to their daily lives and learn to protect their legal rights and interests by law," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

He said he expected government officials to abide by the laws at work through education.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of China's present constitution.

The campaign is jointly organized by the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, the national office for law popularization, Ministry of Justice and CCTV, China's state TV channel.

It will promote the knowledge of laws that matter most to people's daily lives, for instance, the Property Law and the Law on Employment Contracts both adopted this year, and provide legal service that meets people's needs, according to the organizers.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2007)