Chinese top legislature Wednesday approved the country's first Civil Servant Law to improve its civil servant system by defining officials' rights and responsibilities.

The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) deliberated the bill during its 15th session from April 24 to 27.

Chinese officials will have more rights to protect their personal interests while taking more responsibility for their behavior, according to the law, which will take effect on January 1, 2006.

Absorbing a lot from the current related regulations, the law covers such areas as the duties, posts and ranks, recruitment, assessment, salaries, training, punishments and related issues concerning public servants.

"The law will help civil servants to have a clearer perception of their career responsibilities and performance standards," said Hou Jianliang, Vice Minister of Personnel.

According to the law, officials should take the blame and quit their posts if their mistakes or negligence cause major losses or serious social repercussions.

The law stipulates that all public servants should be recruited through just, open and fair examinations. At present, there are still some officials who become civil servants through directly engaging or transferring from civilian organizations.

The new regulation gives precise procedures for civil servants to appeal against decisions they disagree with in order to distinguish their legal responsibilities. Civil servants also are required to stay out of cases involving their relatives.

In addition, the law ensures a stable salary system saying that civil servants' salary should be in line with the local economic levels and should be increased according to the economic growth.

According to Hou, there were about 6.37 million civil servants and about more than 30 million personnel working in public-funded organizations across the country by the end of 2003.