国内英语新闻:China's top legislature wraps up bi-monthly session

BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) closed its bi-monthly session Tuesday.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting of the session.

INTELLIGENCE LAW

At the closing meeting, lawmakers passed the National Intelligence Law, which will enter into force Wednesday.

The 32 articles cover general provisions, organization and duty of the intelligence agencies, and punishments for misconduct.

The law requires agencies and their staff to safeguard human rights and to protect the legal rights and interests of individuals and organizations.

AMENDMENTS

A revised Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law was adopted after a second reading to strengthen government responsibility and supervision.

The current Water Pollution Prevention Law was enacted in 1984 and has been amended twice in 1996 and 2008, respectively.

The Standing Committee also passed amendments to the civil and administrative procedure laws to allow prosecutors to institute public interest litigation.

Prosecutors are to be allowed to file civil lawsuits against any act that infringes public rights and interest in protection of environment and resources, as well as food and drug safety, according to the amendment to the Civil Procedure Law.

They can also file an administrative lawsuits for abuses of power or nonfeasance in cases concerning protection of the environment and resources, food and drug safety, preservation of state assets, and transfer of state-owned land use rights, according to the amendment to the Administrative Procedure Law.

REVIEWING DRAFTS, REPORTS

At the session, lawmakers reviewed draft laws on national supervision, the national anthem, public libraries and prevention of soil pollution.

They also deliberated draft amendments to the Law Promoting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the Law on Farmers' Specialized Cooperatives.

On Tuesday, the Standing Committee approved the State Council's final accounts for 2016.

By the end of last year, combined debt of central and local governments in China stood at 27.3 trillion yuan (about 4 trillion U.S. dollars), with a debt-to-GDP ratio at around 36.7 percent, official data showed.

Two reports on the implementation of the Product Quality Law and the Drug Administration Law were also deliberated during the week-long session.

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

An agreement on the establishment of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute was ratified at the closing meeting.

The proposed inter-governmental organization is expected to enhance economic cooperation in the CAREC region by providing information and training.

The Standing Committee also ratified extradition treaties with Argentina and Ethiopia, which specify extradition obligations, crimes that extradition will apply to, possible reasons for refusing extradition, costs, and dispute resolution procedures, among others.

APPOINTMENTS AND DISMISSALS

Li Ganjie was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection, replacing Chen Jining.

Wang Menghui was named Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to replace Chen Zhenggao.

The Standing Committee also approved appointments in the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

After the session was concluded, an oath-taking ceremony was held for new ministers to pledge their allegiance to the Constitution.

The 12th NPC currently has 2,912 deputies.