China concludes annual parliamentary session, upholding reform, rule of law

BEIJING, March 13 -- China's top legislator stressed reform and rule of law as the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliamentary body, concluded its annual session Thursday morning.

The lawmakers reached consensus, defined major missions and strengthened confidence on the country's development at the session, said Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, in his address at the closing meeting of the session.

Zhang highlighted in his speech the commitment to further reform and rule of law.

Bearing the "glorious mission" of deepening reform, "we should mainly rely on the people...strengthen our confidence, stay on a correct path and accumulate consensus...to write a new chapter in the history of our great cause of reform and opening-up," Zhang told nearly 3,000 lawmakers.

He called for further fulfillment of rule of law, protection of people's rights and interests and safeguarding justice.

The NPC and its standing committee bear an important responsibility in improving socialist democracy and rule of law, Zhang said.

"We will adhere to the principle of integrating the leadership of the Party, the people's status as masters of the country and rule of law," he said.

The top legislature will continue safeguarding rule of law and authority of the Constitution and laws, while listening to the call of the people and responding to their requests, he said, adding that the top legislature will continue to improve the system of people's congress.

Zhang said that during the NPC session, the lawmakers worked in a pragmatic and efficient way and freely expressed their ideas.

At the session, the NPC deputies examined and approved a number of important documents, including the government work report, the national economic and social development plan and the central budget.

They also endorsed the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The lawmakers approved the resignations of two NPC Standing Committee members at the closing meeting.

Chen Sixi and Wang Xiao resigned from the Standing Committee in May and June last year after Chen was appointed as deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Macao, and Wang took the post of deputy governor of northwest China's Qinghai Province.

According to the NPC rules, NPC Standing Committee members, elected from NPC deputies, are not allowed to take posts in governments, courts and procuratorates.

The NPC Standing Committee accepted their resignations in June and submitted them to the full session for final confirmation.

Top Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli attended the meeting.