In the new year, the Standing Committee will enact and revise a number of laws to meet the needs of reform, development and stability, so as to achieve the goal of building the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, Li said in his report on the Standing Committee's work at the ongoing annual NPC session.

In the past four years, the Ninth NPC and its Standing Committee adopted an amendment to the Constitution, 58 laws, four interpretations for laws and 20 resolutions on legal issues, the top legislator said.

The NPC Standing Committee has worked out a preliminary draft of a law on supervision in response to requests of NPC deputies, but some of the provisions need further discussions. "We will work to finish the draft and submit it for examination," Li said.

In the new year, the Standing Committee will revise the organic laws for people's courts and procuratorates and the agricultural law; draft a law on property rights; formulate laws on administrative licensing and enforcement, government procurement, advancement of medium and small enterprises, rural land contracting, popularizing knowledge of science and technology, and promotion of non-governmental educational undertakings; and improve laws concerning social security. The Standing Committee will also step up compilation of China's Civil Code.

Now that China has become a member of the World Trade Organization, the NPC Standing Committee will lose no time in enacting and revising relevant laws, covering export commodity inspection, insurance, anti-monopoly, foreign trade, and animal and plant quarantine.

"In enacting, reviewing and revising relevant laws and regulations, we will strictly abide by the WTO rules and make full use of them to protect and promote China's economic growth," he said.

The NPC Standing Committee should aim its arduous legislative work at emancipating and developing the productive forces, advancing socialist culture, and embodying the fundamental interests of the people, the top legislator said.

The Standing Committee will stress quality of legislation, and check any attempt to protect or enlarge the powers of departments or localities through inappropriate legislation. The process of examining legal drafts should become more democratic, he said.

Li Peng stressed that the Standing Committee will improve its supervision mechanism to ensure the administrative and judicial organs work efficiently. This year it will carry out inspections on the implementation of laws on food hygiene, mineral resources, seeds and fire protection. The committee is also to review special reports by the State Council on safeguarding women's rights and interests, forest-related ecological conservation, industrial safety and medical reform.

In supervision, the Standing Committee may set up special investigation committees to look into extremely serious cases of law violation, and findings may be publicized if necessary.

Other tasks of the Standing Committee this year include the election of deputies to the Tenth NPC, foreign exchanges, and publicity of laws, Li Peng said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2002)