Chinese President Xi Jinping recently instructed local people's congresses and their standing committees to improve legislation and supervision based on local conditions, and uphold rule of law in the new era. 

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that the establishment of standing committees of local people's congresses at the county-level and above marked an important milestone in facilitating development and improvement of the People's Congress system.

According to Xi, new tasks in the new era have put forward new requirements for the work of the people's congresses.

Xi called on the local people's congresses and their standing committees to creatively undertake legislation and supervision work in a practical way, so as to inject a great impetus to economic and social development as well as reforms.

He thus urged the deputies to people's congresses to better fulfill their duties in accordance with the law and raise their awareness of service for people.

He also encouraged the local people's congresses and their standing committees to develop closer ties with local people, safeguard people's rights and improve people's livelihood.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, read Xi's instructions at a symposium held in Beijing on Thursday marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of standing committees at the local people's congresses.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping joins deliberation with deputies from central China's Henan Province at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing, March 8, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)