Beijing (Agencies): The National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will prioritize legislative efforts across multiple fields this year, including enhanced research into artificial intelligence and big data, as well as amendments to the Maritime Law and Foreign Trade Law in the realm of foreign-related legislation. This was stated in a work report delivered by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, at the second plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC on Saturday.
According to the work report, significant legislative progress has been made over the past year. The NPC Standing Committee reviewed 39 draft laws and passed 24 of them, including the enactment of six new laws, amendments to 14 laws, and four decisions on legal and major issues. Additionally, 12 treaties and significant agreements were ratified. To promote democratic and transparent legislation, 28 draft laws were published for public consultation, garnering over 70,000 suggestions from diverse sectors.
Notably, in 2024, the NPC Standing Committee reviewed the State Council’s report on government debt for the first time and offered recommendations for balancing debt risk reduction with stable development and creating a government debt management framework suited to high-quality development.
Looking ahead to 2025, legislative efforts will be intensified across various domains, with 34 draft laws scheduled for review. To foster national unity, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress will be introduced, according to the report.
Meanwhile, environmental protection will remain a priority, with ongoing efforts to codify environmental laws and the enactment of the National Parks Law. In the realm of foreign-related legislation, amendments will be made to the Maritime Law and Foreign Trade Law. Additionally, legislative research will be enhanced in fields like artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and big data.
China will also formulate or revise multiple laws to strengthen its legal framework for the development of the socialist market economy this year. The NPC Standing Committee will formulate a law on promoting the private sector, a law on national development planning, a financial law, a financial stability law, and a law on farmland protection and quality improvement in 2025, according to the report.
Legislative efforts in social and cultural fields will also be advanced, with the enactment of the Law on Legal Education and Public Awareness and the childcare services law, alongside amendments to the infectious disease prevention law and the national common spoken and written language law.