国内英语新闻:Chinese legislature urged to uphold CPC's leadership

BEIJING, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang has urged lawmakers to adhere to the "centralized leadership" of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and fulfill duties according to the committee's decisions.

Legislators must think and act in line with the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the General Secretary and operate according to the committee's deployment, ensuring the party's leadership over the country and society via state authorities, Zhang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said Tuesday at a meeting.

At the meeting, Zhang discussed with lawmakers the draft work report of the NPC Standing Committee, which is scheduled to be delivered at the annual session of the top legislature in March.

Suggestions from the NPC deputies to the report and the top legislature's work included greater legislation efforts regarding civil laws, health and medical services and national security.

Lawmakers suggested the top legislature improve its publicity work and strengthen its guidance over the work of lower-level legislatures.

They also advised greater participation by the country's legislators in lawmaking and supervision procedures and better research to ensure efficient supervision and solutions.

Zhang listened to their suggestions and exchanged opinions with them. He also called for supervision of the deputies' performance of their duties and called on the legislators to keep closer ties with the public to play their due role.

The lawmakers should improve the legislation to serve reform and promote the implementation of new development concepts, said Zhang.

The legislature should also do better in its supervision and resolve problems that commonly concern the people, he said.