China to amend law to curb land expropriation (2)

The upcoming draft law amendment, submitted by the State Council, aims to address the outstanding problem of excessive land expropriation.

The draft, passed at a cabinet meeting last month, proposes altering rules on how to compensate farmers whose collectively owned land is expropriated.

Compensation for farmers' expropriated land is expected to rise if the draft amendment is adopted by lawmakers.

Rural stability and grain supply security face a number of challenges due to excessive land expropriation, the State Council said, vowing stricter regulation on farmland expropriation.

Protests by farmers over land seizures have erupted in villages across the country in recent years, prompting calls for better protection of farmers' property rights.

In a report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month, Hu Jintao pressed for reforms for the land expropriation system and increasing farmers' share of gains in land value.

Meanwhile, a draft resolution regarding the State Council's authorization for the temporary adjustment of administrative approval of some laws and regulations in south China's Guangdong Province will be adopted at the legislative session.