Top legislator urges NPC to meet public expectations

All works of the National People's Congress must be "people-centered" and actively respond to the public's expectations of a better life, the top legislator said on Thursday as the NPC wrapped up its annual session.

People elect deputies to represent them and form people's congresses to govern State affairs and economic, social and cultural affairs. "We will respect, rely on and serve deputies, and bring their roles to full play so that (the principle of) the people's mastery of their country is better and more effectively implemented in the country's political and social life," said Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

He made the remarks in a speech at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 13th NPC. President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting with other leaders.

Li said the NPC must uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era－the country's guiding principle as stipulated in the Constitution－adhere to the leadership of the CPC and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

"We should unswervingly stay on the path of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics ... to ensure the right direction of law-based governance." He added that the NPC will play its role of legislation, supervision, decision-making and personnel appointments in accordance with the law.

On Thursday, the amended Organic Law and Procedural Rules of the NPC were adopted, "opening a new chapter for the National People's Congress", according to Li Zongsheng, an NPC deputy from Liaoning province.

The amendments of the two legal documents had not been revised for more than three decades. While providing NPC deputies with more opportunities to attend legislative activities, "the amended law and rules can help the public understand what the NPC can do and how it works more clearly by making NPC-related information more transparent", Li Zongsheng said.

National legislators also passed the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, the annual Government Work Report and the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

At the closing meeting, the national legislators also approved reports on implementation of the 2020 plan for national economic and social development and the 2021 draft plan as well as budgets for 2021.