The amendments to the Marriage Law, together with the Trust Law, Amendments to the Taxation Law and Law on National Defense Education, were approved by China's top law-making body Saturday.
After the third hearing, the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), overwhelmingly adopted the amendments to the Marriage Law, with 127 in favor, one against and nine abstentions.
The amendments to the Taxation Law have improved the legal framework for taxation, and is significant for guaranteeing government revenue, said Li Peng, chairman of the Ninth NPC Standing Committee.
The newly-adopted Trust Law includes items involving the establishment, modification and ending of trusteeship, property in trust, and the rights and duties of trustees.
President Jiang Zemin signed presidential decrees for the four laws. The Amendments to the Taxation Law will take effect on May 1 this year, and the Trust Law on October 1. The other two took effect Saturday.
The NPC Standing Committee revoked the qualification of Zhang Guixi from Guangdong Province and Wang Liguang from Shaanxi Province as NPC deputies.
Three international pacts were also ratified by the legislature Saturday. The pacts are a treaty with Laos on civil and criminal judicial assistance, a treaty with the Philippines on criminal judicial assistance and a border agreement between China, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
A draft resolution by the State Council on further strengthening an educational campaign on the knowledge of law throughout the country was passed by the legislature Saturday.
The 21st session of the Ninth NPC Standing Committee opened on Tuesday, with nine drafts presented to the legislature.
(People's Daily 04/29/2001)
