China's top legislator: Lawmakers guaranteed to better perform duties

China's top legislature has enhanced the capabilities of deputies to the people's congresses, supporting and ensuring they can better perform their duties in accordance with the law, said the country's top legislator on Friday.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made these remarks while delivering a work report of the NPC Standing Committee to the annual legislative session held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The NPC Standing Committee established a working committee for NPC deputies to strengthen the ties between the NPC Standing Committee and the deputies, as well as between the deputies and the people, since March 2023, Zhao said.

He added that the NPC Standing Committee has also enhanced and implemented the systems and mechanisms for connecting the Standing Committee with the NPC deputies.

Members of the Standing Committee have directly contacted 418 deputies, Zhao noted, adding that the Standing Committee has also invited 273 deputies to attend meetings of the Standing Committee as non-voting delegates.

By leveraging the advantages of NPC deputies being from and rooted in the people, the Standing Committee encouraged the deputies to listen to and reflect the will and voices of the people, as well as to carry out research and inspections, he stated.

The top legislator also mentioned that the Standing Committee has improved its efficiency in handling NPC deputies' proposals.

All 271 proposals submitted by Chinese lawmakers during the annual session of the NPC in March 2023 have been deliberated by special committees of the NPC, with deputies receiving feedback. Furthermore, a total of 8,314 suggestions made by national lawmakers during the same period were referred to and addressed by relevant organizations, with deputies also receiving feedback.

The Standing Committee has strengthened services to ensure national lawmakers can perform their duties, Zhao said, adding that the Standing Committee will optimize the functions of the information platform to facilitate the lawmakers' work.

(Cover: The second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 8, 2024./CFP)