China's top legislature holds plenary meeting during annual session

BEIJING -- The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, convened its second plenary meeting Monday.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders -- Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan -- attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Nearly 2,900 national lawmakers heard and reviewed the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered the work report of the committee to the meeting.

In the past year, the NPC Standing Committee has effectively performed the duties and functions as the state organ of power, offering legal guarantee for advancing the implementation of major work plans, tackling major risks and challenges and safeguarding national security, Li said in the report.

Since last year's NPC annual session, the NPC Standing Committee has adopted nine laws, including the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and revised 13 laws, including the National Flag Law and the National Emblem Law, said the top legislator.

The NPC Standing Committee has strengthened the implementation of the Constitution, stepped up legislation in key areas and conducted oversight of legal compliance and work performance in accordance with the law, according to Li.

The main tasks for the coming year include working to ensure greater observance of the Constitution and enhance constitutionality reviews and strengthening legislative work in key areas, emerging areas and areas relating to external affairs, he said.

Chief Justice Zhou Qiang delivered the SPC work report. The SPC accepted 39,347 cases in total and concluded 35,773 cases in 2020.

Summarizing the top court's work in 2020, Zhou said it safeguarded national security and social stability, actively contributed to high-quality development, protected people's legitimate rights and interests and deepened reform.

For 2021 and beyond, Zhou vowed to strengthen impartial administration of justice, deepen reform, and fully leverage the courts' trial function.

Procurator-General Zhang Jun delivered the SPP work report. Prosecutors across the country handled over 3 million cases over the past year, down 19.4 percent from last year, according to the report.

In 2021, prosecutors should work to provide strong legal guarantee for a good start in the drive to fully build a modern socialist country, Zhang said.