China's national legislature to convene on March 5

The 13th National People's Congress (NPC) will hold its first annual session in Beijing on March 5 to discuss the Constitution revision, according to a decision made by the 12th NPC Standing Committee Tuesday.

The NPC deputies will also elect state leaders and confirm nomination of state leaders, according to the decision adopted via a vote at an NPC Standing Committee session held on Monday and Tuesday.

The agenda of the session includes reviewing the government work report, examining reports on the implementation of the annual plan on national economic and social development in 2017 and the draft plan on national economic and social development in 2018, and examining reports on the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2017 and the draft central and local budgets in 2018.

The Great Hall of the People in Beijing [File photo: VCG]

NPC deputies will deliberate a draft revision to the Constitution, a draft law on supervision, and the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the decision.

The motion to review a draft revision to the Constitution and the draft itself were passed unanimously by the NPC Standing Committee via a vote, said Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, at the closing meeting of the NPC Standing Committee session.

"The draft revision has incorporated major theoretical achievements, principles and policies adopted at the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," Zhang said.

He urged the NPC Standing Committee to fulfill duties bestowed by the Constitution and law, work for a better socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and enhance supervision on the implementation of the Constitution and law.

The priorities of the 12th NPC Standing Committee next month will be examining qualification of the 13th NPC deputies, assisting them to perform their legal duties, stepping up preparation for the annual session and preparing for a smooth transition to the 13th NPC Standing Committee, which will be elected at the annual session in March.

The NPC Standing Committee also appointed five officials and dismissed one.

Before the closing meeting, Zhang also presided over a meeting of the chairman and vice chairpersons.

The NPC is the highest institution through which the Chinese people exercise their state power. Elected for a term of five years, it normally meets at an annual session and is convened by its Standing Committee.

The first NPC was convened in 1954, marking the establishment of the people's congress system in China.