Top legislature mulls changes to environmental protection law

BEIJING - China's top legislature decided on Monday to consider a series of draft laws, amendments and bills later this month, including a much anticipated draft revision of environmental protection law.

The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will convene a bimonthly session from April 21 to 24, according to a decision made at Monday's meeting presided over by top legislator Zhang Dejiang and attended by the NPC Standing Committee's vice chairpersons.

Under the recommended agenda, the bimonthly session will also include deliberation on a draft amendment to budget law.

Monday's meeting did not reveal details on how the laws would be changed.

A bill submitted by the State Council on a draft law on shipping navigation channels and two others concerning the judicial interpretation of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law will also be deliberated.

Lawmakers will also review bills to approve a treaty between China and Argentina on criminal judicial assistance and the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, a document overseen by the World Intellectual Property Organization and expected to strengthen the economic rights of film actors and other performers.

Reports on energy saving and emissions reduction, the qualifications of some NPC deputies as well as some appointments and dismissals will also be examined at the upcoming meeting, according to the agenda.