Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first plenary meeting of the 29th session of the 11th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 23, 2012. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's legislature, began a four-day bimonthly session on Tuesday to deliberate several draft laws.
Presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, the first plenary meeting of the session was held Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People.
According to the meeting's agenda, lawmakers at the session will continue their deliberation of a draft mental health law and a draft revision for the Law on Securities Investment Funds.
Following two readings in October last year and August this year, the draft mental health law was presented for a third reading at the session.
It includes provisions on ensuring the safety of property belonging to patients of mental disorder and the government's duty to promote mental health, as well as issuing allowances to mental health workers.
The draft revision for the Law on Securities Investment Funds was first tabled for deliberation in June and will undergo its second reading this week.
Lawmakers at the session will discuss a decision to amend certain provisions for seven laws that are inconsistent with the amended Criminal Procedure Law, which was adopted in March by the NPC and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
The seven laws are the Prison Law, Law on Lawyers, Law on the Protection of Minors, Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, the State Indemnity Law and People's Police Law.
Lawmakers will also discuss a draft amendment to the Postal Law, which was tabled for the first time.
Tuesday's meeting heard reports from legislators and representatives from the State Council, or China's cabinet, on the aforementioned draft laws and amendments.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, entrusted by the State Council, gave an explanation for two treaties signed between China and other countries while submitting them to the session for ratification.
One is the China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan treaty on the definition of the tri-junction point for national boundaries, while the other is the China-Thailand treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons.
Lawmakers on Tuesday also heard a report on the qualifications of certain NPC delegates and discussed appointments and dismissals.
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