The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, kicked off its 16th session on Tuesday in Beijing. 

Lawmakers are reviewing a range of draft amendments and new legislation covering areas such as public security administration, unfair competition, public health emergencies, maritime affairs, and civil aviation. 

They are also deliberating proposals related to grassroots governance, social assistance, medical security, and food safety. 

On the international front, a proposal to ratify the Convention on the Establishment of the International Mediation Institute is also on the table. 

The session is expected to conclude on Friday.

Medical insurance system advancement

The draft law on medical insurance, which is expected to improve the country's universal basic medical insurance system, was submitted to the national legislature on Tuesday for its first reading.

According to Zhang Ke, head of the National Healthcare Security Administration, the draft law includes a dedicated chapter that outlines the framework of the medical security system.

It clearly defines the coverage, funding mechanisms, and benefit guarantees for basic medical insurance for urban employees, basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents, and maternity insurance, Zhang said.

The draft also includes provisions to ensure the safe and stable operation of the medical insurance fund, with strengthened oversight of its revenue and expenditure management.

Social assistance system expansion

Chinese lawmakers are also reviewing a draft law designed to ensure basic living support for people in need.

The draft law on social assistance was submitted to the ongoing session on Tuesday for its first reading.

The draft expands the scope of social assistance and strengthens its role as a safety net for those in need.

It calls for primary-level authorities to actively monitor the living conditions of residents and provide timely assistance in accordance with the law.

The draft also calls for establishing and enhancing mechanisms to encourage broader participation of citizens, legal entities, and other organizations in providing social assistance. 

Food Safety Law amendment

The draft amendment to the Food Safety Law aimed at addressing key issues, strengthening regulatory oversight, and ensuring food safety was submitted for its first reading.

The draft includes provisions to enhance oversight of bulk road transportation of key liquid food, place infant formula liquid milk under registration management, and impose stricter penalties for violations.

The Food Safety Law was promulgated in 2009. It underwent a comprehensive revision in 2015 and was amended in 2018 and 2021.

Civil aviation sector development

Chinese lawmakers began reviewing a draft revision to the Civil Aviation Law on Tuesday as part of the country's efforts to boost the sector's development.

The draft was submitted to the national legislature's ongoing session for the second reading.

The draft stipulates that China will strengthen the construction of civil aviation infrastructure, support scientific and technological research and education, boost professional training, and enhance civil aviation safety and service standards.

It includes measures to support research and development in core technologies in key fields, improve design capabilities for large aircraft and advanced engines, promote the industrial application of scientific and technological innovation, and boost the development of civil aviation manufacturing.

It also specifies provisions to advance the development of the low-altitude economy.

Data rights protection upgrades

Chinese lawmakers are also deliberating a draft revision to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law to toughen regulatory measures against data rights violations and malicious transactions.

The draft was submitted to the ongoing NPC session on Tuesday for its second reading.

The draft outlines various forms of malicious transactions and introduces provisions for establishing a national fair competition review system.

To strengthen regulation against unfair competition on platforms, the draft prohibits operators from forcing or indirectly pressuring vendors to sell products below cost.

It also stipulates that platform operators must clearly outline fair competition rules within their platform service agreements and transaction regulations.

Promulgated in 1993, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law aims to promote the healthy development of the socialist market economy, encourage and protect fair competition, curb unfair competition practices, and safeguard the legal rights and interests of operators and consumers. 

(With input from Xinhua)