BEIJING, July 18 -- President Xi Jinping has instructed local people's congresses and their standing committees to creatively improve legislation and supervision based on local conditions.

The local people's congresses and their standing committees are expected to better contribute to economic and social development as well as reforms, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, in a recent instruction about the work of the local people's congresses and their standing committees.

A symposium was held in Beijing Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of standing committees at the local people's congresses.

Over the past 40 years, the local people's congresses and their standing committees have been committed to the organic unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people and law-based governance and have made important contributions to local reform, development and stability, Xi said.

Local legislatures should consciously follow the leadership of the Party committees at the corresponding level, maintain close ties with the people, ensure deputies play their roles better, strengthen legal protection for the people's rights and interests and improve their well-being, Xi said.