Legal system must protect national security

China is facing an increasingly complicated national security situation in the era of globalization and needs to build up a legal system concerning national security, the spokeswoman of the NPC annual session said at a press conference on Wednesday. [Special coverage]

A new national security draft law, the core of the system according to spokeswoman Fu Ying, was put before China's top legislative body and approved.

And the anti-terrorism law was the subject of a "heated discussion"for the second time in February, Fu added.

Some major issues raised during the discussion concerned how to define terrorism and how to balance the anti-terrorism measures with the protection of human rights, she said.

Meanwhile, the draft law concerning management of foreign non-governmental organizations has also gone through the preliminary discussion stage, Fu said.

There are more than 6,000 foreign non-governmental organizations in China and they are very "active", she said.

"Foreign NGOs have benefited China's development in the past since China adopted the reform and opening up policy, bringing technology, funding and expertise,"Fu said.

However, management of the foreign NGOs in the country, she said must be enhanced. Currently the management is based on the regulations regarding foreign chambers and foundations, which is "not comprehensive".

"We need to make laws for foreign NGOs to abide by in China,"Fu said in response to China Daily's question whether China is tightening the management of foreign NGOs in the country.

"On one hand, we must protect their legal rights so that they can play a better role (in China's development). On the other, we must effectively manage them to ensure national security and maintain social stability."