The battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was top of the agenda when the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, opened its second meeting in Beijing Friday afternoon.

The Standing Committee is to review three law drafts and a work report on the prevention of SARS in the meeting.

Vice-Premier Wu Yi, on behalf of the State Council, delivered a work report on the prevention and control of SARS to the lawmakers.

Wu briefed the lawmakers on the measures already taken, and those yet to be taken by the Chinese government to curb the spread of SARS.

The fight against SARS in China was at a critical point, said Wu. "We will definitely win a complete victory in this battle" with the joint efforts of all sectors, she said.

The three draft laws, covering citizen identity cards, prevention of radiation pollution, and ports, were heard by the lawmakers.

The draft law on citizen identity cards had been reviewed and deliberated twice by the Ninth NPC Standing Committee and the other two had been discussed once.

During the meeting, the lawmakers also heard a proposal, tabled by the State Council, on the function of the newly-founded China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).

The CBRC, which will take over regulatory powers from the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, is part of a government restructuring plan adopted by the 10th NPC at its first session.

In addition, three international pacts are due to be ratified during the session - good neighborly and friendship treaties with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and a cooperative pact with Kazakhstan on the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2003)