国内英语新闻:Chinese lawmakers discuss forthcoming parliamentary session

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) discussed a draft report on their work on Thursday.

The report will be submitted to the NPC's annual session next month if adopted by the committee.

The committee explored ways to improve its work by expanding channels for deputies and the public to participate in the legislative process.

In the past year, the committee made legislation in accordance with the NPC's demand for change and to advance rule of law.

Lawmakers were pleased with the designation of Dec. 4 as National Constitution Day last year as a demonstration of confidence in the NPC system and the Constitution.

Interaction between the NPC Standing Committee, deputies and local legislatures also improved through inspections and research on the work of the people's congresses at county and village level.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, on Thursday presided over a meeting to hear reports on bills under review including a draft decision to pilot rural land reform in 33 selected county-level areas and three international treaties, including a cooperation pact between China and Turkmenistan.

Opinions on the agenda of the annual parliamentary session, candidates for the session's presidium and secretary-general, as well as the list of observers were also heard.