China's Top Legislature Approves Draft Amendments to Patent Law

The draft amendments to the Patent Law was approved Friday at the closing ceremony of the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin signed a decree making it effective July 1, 2001.

NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng presided over the closing meeting.

Li said that since the implementation of the Patent Law 15 years ago the law has played a positive role in promoting scientific advances and economic progress in China.

This time, the revision of the Patent Law mainly focuses on the management structure and the application and examination methods of patents, as well as the effective protection of patent rights, according to the chairman.

During the four and a half days meeting, Chinese lawmakers deliberated about the draft amendments to the National Common Language Law and the Fishery Law, examined four drafts for the first time, namely the draft of Extradition Law, the draft amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Family Members of Overseas Chinese, the Pharmaceutical Administration Law and the Law on the Administration of Tax Collection.

At the closing ceremony, the lawmakers approved a bill, submitted by the State Council, to allow the Ministry of Finance to issue 50 billion yuan of long-term governments bonds in the second half of the year.

During the meeting period, members of the NPC Standing Committee also discussed reports from government officials on various issues, including the work being done to promote science and education in the country and the implementation of the national economic and social development plan.





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