国内英语新闻: China's top legislature closes bimonthly session

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the closing meeting of the eighth session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2014. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, closed its bimonthly session Thursday, with its environmental law being revised.

The revised Environmental Protection Law, the first change to the legislation in 25 years, sets environmental protection as the country's basic policy.

The new law says that economic and social development should be coordinated with environmental protection and encourages studies on the impact environmental quality has on public health, urging prevention and control of pollution-related diseases.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said at the closing meeting of the session that this is a basic foundation in environmental protection, having drawn wide public attention.

Zhang added that the revised law will be of great significance in improving the environment, safeguarding the people's health and promoting a conservation culture.

An interpretation to the criminal procedure law was also adopted during the session. The interpretation clarifies what victims should do if they do not agree with prosecutors about dropping a charge against a juvenile suspect.

The criminal procedure law allows prosecutors to drop a charge against a juvenile suspect if he or she shows remorse for a minor crime that may only lead to a sentence of less than one year.

The top legislature on Thursday also ratified a treaty with Argentina on mutual judicial assistance in criminal affairs.

The 24-article treaty covers issues such as the scope of application and restrictions of such assistance, rules on lodging requests for judicial assistance, and dispute resolution.

Legislators also deliberated on a draft revision to the budget law which pledged to forge a fully regulated and transparent budget system by expanding public access, and a draft law on navigation channels.

Lawmakers also ratified a "Beijing Treaty" on audiovisual performances signed in June 2012, and deliberated on a State Council work report on energy conservation and emission reduction.