China's 31 provincial-level legislatures, or the Standing Committees of the provincial people's congresses, have all set up liaison offices for helping the country's nearly 3,000 deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) perform their duties.

The move is widely considered an important signal of letting Chinese lawmakers play a more active role in legislation. In May, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) issued a document entitled, "Suggestions on Letting NPC Deputies Play a More Important Role," which was drafted by the Party committee of the NPC Standing Committee.

The establishment of liaison offices in the Standing Committee of provincial-level people's congress was one of the Suggestions.

Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said, compared with lawmakers in Western countries, Chinese lawmakers, or NPC deputies, have two unique characteristics.

First, most of them are part-time lawmakers. They work in different places and different industries. Therefore, they represent broad sections of people.

Second, they have no legislative assistants or legislative consultant centers. The NPC Standing Committee is the sole organization authorized to provide services for NPC deputy's legislative work.

"However, since the 3,000 NPC deputies live in different places, it's very hard for the NPC Standing Committee to give considerate assistance to every NPC deputy. Therefore, it's quite urgent and necessary to establish liaison offices in different provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions," said Sheng.

He also said NPC deputies had played an increasingly important role in legislation work.

However, problems exist. There is no proper mechanism to ensure NPC deputies to participate in legislative work after 15-day annual NPC plenary session closed.

The liaison offices will organize regular inspections and legislative research for NPC deputies and offer them information concerning legislation and national conditions, so as to help them draft qualified motions and suggestions.

Source: Xinhua