China's legislature ends 5-day session with passage of numerous laws

The five-day 21st session of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress concluded on Saturday with adoption of the farm products quality and safety law and the passport law in Beijing Saturday.

The law on the quality and safety of farm products will go into effect on Nov. 1 and the passport law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

The standing committee, which has more than 150 members, also passed numerous other important documents regarding China's international relations. These include the country's adherence to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management; an extradition treaty between China and Brazil, the treaty on criminal matters between China and Spain, the extradition treaty between China and Spain and the treaty on criminal matters between China and France.

The legislature adopted a resolution on enhancing legal education. The legislature also adopted resolution to appoint Su Yong the President of the Military Court of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Wu Bangguo, China's top legislator, presided over the meeting. In his closing remarks, he spoke of the need to enhance the country's innovation capacity and implement the concept of scientific development. He said this will improve the structure of the economy, conserve resources and reduce consumption.

At the conclusion of the session, Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, gave a lecture on the need to build an innovation-oriented country.

He said "only by building an innovation-oriented country, can we maintain stable and fast economic growth and continue our comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable economic and social development and be competitive in international society."

Source: Xinhua