National legislature set to convene annual session on March 5

The 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will kick off its first session in Beijing on March 5, according to a decision made by the NPC Standing Committee on Friday.

Routine tasks proposed by the committee for the session's agenda will include reviewing the annual work reports of the central government, the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and deliberating the annual plan for socioeconomic development as well as the plans for central and local budgets.

It also suggested that lawmakers review a draft amendment to the Legislation Law, which has already been discussed by the NPC Standing Committee twice.

In China, a draft generally becomes law after being reviewed three times by the NPC Standing Committee. If a law is closely related to people's interests and fundamental national issues, it will need to be reviewed by all NPC members rather than just being adopted by the committee. In addition, the decision recommended that the 14th NPC elect and appoint staff for government departments during its first session.

The NPC, the highest organ of State power and the top legislative body in China, is responsible for supervising government and judicial authorities and for making decisions on major State issues, including elections and appointments.

According to the Constitution, NPC deputies serve a term of five years, and the NPC Standing Committee is responsible for organizing deputy elections. This year was the last year for deputies to the 13th NPC, which was seated in 2018, to perform their duties.

Also on Friday, Xinhua reported that the Chairperson's Council meeting of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee has suggested that the 14th CPPCC National Committee begin its first session on March 4 in Beijing.

The CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, is vital in the country's efforts to promote socialist democracy. Its members, which include scholars and entrepreneurs, advise government, legislative and judicial bodies and put forward proposals on major issues.