Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said today the top legislative body will earnestly perform its duties enshrined in the Constitution and laws and continue to push ahead the process of building China into a socialist country ruled by law.

Li made the remarks when delivering a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee to the on-going Third Session of the Ninth NPC which convened its third plenary meeting here this morning.

This is the first time that a NPC Standing Committee chairman has reported on the work of the top law-making body to a NPC session. Such reports used to be delivered by a vice-chairman.

According to today's agenda, Li's report will be followed by a report on the Draft Law on Legislation by Gu Angran, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.