Full Text: Work report of NPC Standing Committee

BEIJING, March 16 -- Following is the full text of the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which was delivered by Chairman Zhang Dejiang of the NPC Standing Committee on March 9, 2014 for review at the Second Session of the 12th NPC and adopted on March 13, 2014:

REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS

Delivered at the Second Session of the Twelfth National People's Congress on March 9, 2014

Zhang Dejiang

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Fellow Deputies,

On behalf of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), I now present to you the report on its work for your deliberation.

Major Work of the Past Year

In 2013, in the face of the complex international situation and the arduous domestic tasks of reform, development and stability, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and united with and led the people of all of China's ethnic groups in adhering to the general work guideline of making progress while maintaining stability; responding to all risks and challenges calmly; stimulating socialist economic, political, cultural, social and ecological advancement in an all-around way; making overall arrangements for comprehensively deepening reform; and making major progress in all its work, thus winning the heartfelt support of the whole Party and the people of all of our ethnic groups.

The past year was the first year for the Standing Committee of the Twelfth NPC to perform its functions in accordance with the law. The Standing Committee comprehensively implemented the guiding principles set forth at the Eighteenth National Party Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee, and took Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as its guide. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary, the Standing Committee implemented the guiding principles of the First Session of the Twelfth NPC and conscientiously performed the powers and functions conferred on it by the Constitution and laws. Building on past achievements, the Standing Committee took new steps in the work of the NPC, and ensured that its work got off to a good start. Thus, the Standing Committee made positive contributions to strengthening socialist democracy and the socialist rule of law, finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

1. We made comprehensive arrangements for the Standing Committee of the Twelfth NPC.

The Eighteenth National Party Congress drew up a comprehensive plan for adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new conditions of the times. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary has charted the course for making progress in the Party and country's cause since the conclusion of the congress by putting forward many new ideas, viewpoints, judgments and requirements centered on reform, development and stability; on domestic affairs, foreign relations and national defense; and on running the Party, country and armed forces. Bearing the overall work of the Party and country firmly in mind, the Standing Committee of the Twelfth NPC set forth the general thinking, basic requirements and main tasks for its work on the basis of a thorough analysis of the new circumstances and tasks of the NPC's work, and provided powerful guarantees for comprehensively deepening reform and promoting the development of socialist democracy and the socialist rule of law.

-- We unswervingly kept to the socialist path of political development with Chinese characteristics and adhered to, improved and developed the system of people's congresses. We upheld the people's principal position in the country; made people's democracy more widespread, granted it more fully, and developed it further; and supported and ensured the exercise of state power by the people through people's congresses. We unwaveringly adhered to the system of people's congresses and developed it as required by the times, constantly enriched its practicality and suitability to the times, and got the system of people's congresses to fully play its role as China's fundamental political system.

-- We promoted the rule of law in all respects and safeguarded the sanctity of the Constitution and laws. We ensured that the country is governed, governance is exercised and administration is conducted all in accordance with the law, and that our country, government and society are all based on the law. We standardized government activities and made sure that state administrative bodies at all levels function in accordance with the law. We got judicial and procuratorial bodies at all levels to be fair in administering justice. We enhanced judicial credibility, and ensured that laws are observed and strictly enforced, violators are punished, and people's rights and interests are safeguarded. We promoted social fairness and justice. We strengthened oversight and inspection of compliance with the Constitution and laws and safeguarded the unity, sanctity and authority of the country's legal system.

-- We got the NPC and its Standing Committee to fully play their important roles as the country's highest organs of state power in building a law-based socialist country, and strove to initiate a new phase in the work of the NPC. The NPC and its Standing Committee stays in the forefront of developing socialist democracy and the socialist rule of law, and shoulders important responsibility in the course of comprehensively promoting law-based governance. Therefore, we should view steadfastly running the country in accordance with the law and safeguarding the authority of the Constitution and laws as important tasks of the NPC and its Standing Committee. We exercised our legislative, oversight, policymaking, and personnel appointment and dismissal powers in accordance with the law, and gave impetus to implementing the major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. We strengthened legislation in key areas and focused on improving the quality of legislation. We strengthened and improved our oversight work in accordance with the law and focused on making oversight more effective. We supported NPC deputies in the lawful performance of their duties, ensured that they could perform them and got them to close ranks with the people.

-- We drew up a legislative plan and developed and improved the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics. Legislation is a prerequisite and foundation for the rule of law. We drew up a legislative plan for the Standing Committee of the Twelfth NPC based on a comprehensive analysis of the new circumstances and requirements for our legislative work after the establishment of the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics, and on a careful review of bills and proposals put forward by NPC deputies, in-depth investigations and studies, and repeated discussions and consultations. In addition, we promptly held a meeting on legislative work to determine the targets, tasks and requirements of the legislative work for the current term and the steps for fulfilling them. We stressed the need to be guided by the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, proceed from China's conditions and realities, put people first, pass legislation for the benefit of the people, and further the implementation of the Constitution through well-developed laws. We also stressed the need to make laws scientifically and democratically, and constantly improve the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics.