BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to convene the first plenary session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) on March 5, 2008, during which top state and government leaders will be elected.
The 31st meeting of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, which concluded here Saturday, passed a resolution which sets forth suggestions for the session's agenda.
According to the resolution, the session, which will last for about two weeks, will elect chairman and vice chairmen of the NPC Standing Committee, and elect the country's president and vice-president. It will decide on the list of the State Council's premier and vice premiers, as well as state councilors and ministers for government departments.
The meeting will elect chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, and heads of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
The agenda also includes reading and approval of the government report; checking and approval of reports on the implementation of the annual plan on national economic and social development in 2007 and the draft plan on national economic and social development in 2008, and checking and approval of reports on the implementation of the central and local budgets of 2007 and the draft central and local budgets of 2008.
The session will also hear and deliberate three work reports by the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and a State Council plan on institutional reform.
The NPC is the highest institution through which the Chinese people exercise their state power.
In 1953, China held people's congresses at different levels. In1954, the First National People's Congress (NPC) was convened, marking the establishment of the people's congress system in China.
The NPC exercises legislative power, amends the Constitution and supervises its enforcement, formulates and amends basic statutes and other laws; elects and decides on the leading personnel of state-level administrative, judicial, procuratorial and military bodies, and has the right to recall them; supervises government work in accordance with the Constitution and laws; and examines and decides on the fundamental, long-term and key issues of the state.
All administrative, judicial, procuratorial and military organs and other state-level institutions are responsible to the NPC and supervised by it.
China's top legislature approves
minister nomination, adopts a number of bills
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature ended
its week-long bimonthly session on Saturday morning, approving the nomination of
the new minister of commerce and adopting a number of bills, including one to
raise the monthly individual income tax levy threshold. Full story
HK Chief Executive to be selected by
universal suffrage in 2017
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Following is the full
text of the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
on Issues Relating to the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region and for Forming the Legislative Council of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on Issues
Relating to Universal Suffrage: Full story
China raises individual income tax
threshold
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on
Saturday adopted a law amendment to raise the country's individual income tax
threshold from 1,600 yuan a month to 2,000 yuan. Full story
China adopts amendment to road traffic
law, emphasizing "respect to life"
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature
adopted on Saturday an amendment to the country's road traffic safety law,
changing one controversial article which has seen frictions between motor
vehicle drivers and pedestrians over the past three years. Full story
Amendments to border quarantine,
cultural relics protection law adopted
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on
Saturday repealed entry and exit permits for the transport of corpses to
simplify procedures for public convenience and to enhance government
administration efficiency. Full story
China adopts first anti-drug law amid
rising drug-related crimes
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers adopted the
country's first-ever anti-drug law here on Saturday in a bid to curb
drug-related crimes and reduce the growing number of users, especially
under-aged addicts. Full story
China revises law to encourage
scientists for innovation
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on
Saturday adopted an amendment to the Law on Science and Technology Progress,
which aims to create a better environment for making innovations. Full story
China adopts law to streamline labor
arbitration, cut costs
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature
adopted a law on labor dispute mediation and arbitration on Saturday aimed at
"fair and timely" settlement of disputes and lower costs for workers seeking to
safeguard their rights. The new law takes effect on May 1, 2008. Full story
