China's top legislature concludes annual session
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E-mail Xinhua, May 28, 2020
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its annual session on Thursday.
Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders including Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the closing meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Li Zhanshu, an executive chairperson of the presidium of the session, presided over the meeting attended by nearly 3,000 NPC deputies.
Lawmakers adopted the Civil Code, which is to take effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Xi signed a presidential order to promulgate the Civil Code.
The meeting also adopted the NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security, which became effective upon its release on Thursday.
Addressing the meeting, Li Zhanshu said that making major strategic achievements in fighting COVID-19 in about three months has demonstrated the great strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The Civil Code, the first law defined as a "code" of the People's Republic of China, is a milestone legislation for fully advancing China's law-based governance and improving the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics, he said.
As for the decision to make national security laws for the Hong Kong SAR, Li said that it serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.
He also praised the Chinese people's spirit of innovation, struggle, cherishing unity and pursuing dreams, saying those have formed the fundamental force to drive the country forward in spite of all difficulties.
At the meeting, legislators approved the plan for the national economic and social development and the central budget for 2020.
They also approved resolutions on the government work report, and the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Before the closing meeting, Li presided over the meetings of the presidium of the session and the presidium's executive chairpersons.
