Chinese legislators on Tuesday began deliberation of an agreement with Kuwait on judicial assistance concerning civil and commercial affairs.

The bill was tabled by the State Council, the country's Cabinet, for review at the second session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.

Explaining to the lawmakers, China's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said trade and economic relations between China and Kuwait were growing fast and personnel exchanges were more frequent. As a result, civil and commercial lawsuits were reported from time to time.

To safeguard the healthy development of economic and trade relations and protect the lawful rights of citizens and businesses, the pact was signed by the two governments last year, he said.

Bilateral trade reached 2.78 billion U.S. dollars in 2006, up 68.9 percent from the previous year. The figure topped 3.48 billion U.S. dollars between January to November last year, up 36.7 percent year-on-year, he said.

The pact is expected to be ratified during the session that lasts till Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2008)