Legislation tackles development plans and concerns from the public

Special: Two Sessions 2023

A total of 294 laws were in effect in China as of Wednesday, with new legislation drawn up in the past five years to help implement the State's major development plans and respond to public concerns.

The latest data from the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, showed that 49 pieces of legislation are related to the Constitution, the nation's fundamental law, including the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, and the National Emblem Law.

In addition, 24 pieces of legislation cover civil and commercial fields, 83 involve the economy, 27 focus on social development, and three concern criminality.

Last month, the NPC Standing Committee said it stepped up legislative efforts over the past five years by formulating 47 laws and amending legislation 111 times to meet demand for social governance in the new era and further optimize the nation's legal system.

In May 2020, for example, the Civil Code, the nation's first law to include the word "code" since New China was founded in 1949, was adopted by the NPC. The 1,260-article code is an encyclopedia for civil behavior centered on social activities and also a crucial instrument to protect people's rights. It took effect in January 2021.

Three months after the legislation came into force, a law to bolster rural vitalization was unveiled, providing a stronger legal basis for driving high-quality agricultural growth — a priority for the central leadership.

The NPC Standing Committee said this law fills a legislative gap in the field of rural vitalization, adding that it also provides a solution to vitalize rural areas through industries, talent, culture, environmental protection and urban-rural integration.

While formulating such comprehensive laws, the NPC Standing Committee has also been quick to introduce legislation in response to difficulties faced by the public.

For example, at the end of last year, it unveiled a law aimed at fighting telecom and online fraud after a large number of residents experienced financial losses.

In response to widespread food wastage, a 32-article law aimed at combating this problem was passed in April 2021, and took effect immediately.

Last month, the NPC Standing Committee said, "Making such laws is aimed at solving urgent problems quickly and more efficiently."