China's top legislature starts 6-day session

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-22 10:41

BEIJING -- Chinese lawmakers will debate eight bills and several cabinet reports, including one on China's response to the international financial crisis, during a six-day, bi-monthly session which starts Monday.

The Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress, or the top legislature, is expected to review draft amendments to the earthquake precautions and disaster relief law, the patent law, the criminal law and the insurance law at its sixth meeting. It will also consider social insurance and tort liability law drafts.

The draft law on arbitration of rural land contract conflicts and draft amendment to the law on statistics will be tabled at the session for the first reading.

Lawmakers will also discuss four cabinet reports dealing with: the implementation of the 11th Five-Year Plan; measures to cope with the international financial crisis and maintain stable, healthy economic growth; measures to stabilize consumer prices and efforts to control water pollution.

Two international pacts are due to be ratified during the session: the pact on joint military exercises held by Shanghai Cooperation Organization members and the pact on criminal judicial assistance between China and the United Arab Emirates.