SME development

The top legislature began reviewing a draft amendment on Thursday to promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises by cutting costs and supporting innovation.

The draft amendment to the Law of Promoting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for a second reading at the start of its bimonthly session.

The draft said the State Council should define clear responsibilities for authorities at provincial, city and county levels to promote SME development. It also said authorities should set clear policies for tax credits, easy access to financing, lower startup costs, cooperation between civilians and military, support for innovation and training for SME human resources.

The draft also said that authorities should strengthen supervision and inspection of funds for SME development.

Farmers' cooperatives

A draft revision to the Law on Farmers' Specialized Cooperatives expands the scope of specialized cooperatives, adding several new businesses to the cooperatives, including folk arts and crafts, leisure agriculture, and rural tourism. It also clarifies membership qualifications for specialized cooperatives and property rights division in some cooperatives. It also proposed ways to improve financing and accounting systems.

Since the law took effect in 2007, it has played an important role in fattening rural wallets, promoting new agricultural management systems and boosting modern agriculture. The law, however, lagged behind social development, and the content and range of services provided by specialized cooperatives needed to be broadened, advocates said. Some management and financial problems also need regulation, they said.

Public libraries

A draft law on public libraries suggests that public libraries should have juvenile and children's reading areas, with instructors guiding and educating minors. It also says that public libraries should provide free services such as information searches, public lectures, training and exhibitions.

China has more than 3,100 government-run libraries, and around 50 public libraries set up by citizens, enterprises, public institutions and various organizations, Minister of Culture Luo Shugang said.

Water protection

The top legislature began reviewing a draft amendment to prevent water pollution by strengthening government responsibility and supervision. The proposed change to the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for its second reading at the start of the body's bimonthly session.

The draft said the "river chief" system should be expanded to the provincial, city, county and township levels, under which leading officials assume major responsibility for addressing water pollution. It also says that city - and county-level governments should disclose information about the implementation of the water quality improvement plan to the public.

Xinhua