Growth, social stability high on 2022 agenda of top legislature

Promoting people's livelihoods also gets priority at top legislature next year

A number of laws safeguarding economic security, maintaining social stability and promoting people's livelihoods are expected to be made by China's top legislature next year, according to a senior legislator.

"To ensure the safety and sustainability of the national economy, for example, we plan to make laws regarding food security, energy, nuclear power and financial stability," Yue Zhongming, spokesman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, told the media on Friday.

"Meanwhile, we've proposed draft laws regarding preschool education, social assistance and how to respond to public health emergencies in order to provide stronger social protections and a safer environment for residents," Yue said.

Laws concerning mineral resources, prevention of infectious diseases, frontier health and quarantine are also expected to be revised, he said.

Additionally, a few other projects, such as writing a law regarding Customs duties as well as amending the Organic Law of the State Council and legislation popularizing technological knowledge, have also been put on the legislative agenda for next year to improve the country's institutions and technological innovation, Yue added.

Recalling legislative work this year, he said: "Our legislation has taken a new step and seen new achievements in the new era. The number of legislative bills increased, while the speed of our lawmaking and amendments was also accelerated." Yue was referring to the fact that the NPC and its Standing Committee have drafted 14 laws, amended 22 laws and made 10 legislative decisions so far this year.

Many of the new and revised laws involved new and major areas to promote the country's high-quality growth and respond to public concerns in a timely manner, he said.

In November, for instance, the Personal Information Protection Law came into effect, and not long before that the Data Security Law was put in place.

In June, the top legislature approved a high-profile law on countering foreign sanctions to better safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, which went into immediate effect.

Yue also said on Friday that the NPC Standing Committee will start its new session from Monday.

During the upcoming session, lawmakers will review draft laws on organized crime, wetland protection and the prevention and control of noise pollution, as well as a draft decision on holding next year's NPC annual session.

Furthermore, draft amendments to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments and the Seed Law will also be deliberated.