China mulls greater int'l cooperation with draft environmental code

China is considering provisions to boost international cooperation in areas such as marine ecological protection, deep-sea and polar research, and desertification control with its draft environmental code.

The draft is set for the third deliberation at a session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee from December 22 to 27, Huang Haihua, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, told a press conference on Friday.

The draft further clarifies the roles of people's courts and procuratorates in environmental protection, improves the environmental credit supervision system and adds provisions for credit restoration, according to Huang.

It refines rules on the management of open-air burning of crop straw, fallen leaves and other materials, and enhances regulations over the cross-provincial transfer of solid waste.

The draft further strengthens institutional measures to promote the circular economy, and refines the system for compensation for environmental damage, Huang said.