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)