China Adopts Law on Desertification PreventionChina's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, has adopted a law on desertification prevention and treatment, and amendments to the criminal law.The Ninth NPC Standing Committee, which concluded its 23rd session Friday, also adopted judicial explanations for three articles of the criminal law, which were on the meanings of " violation of regulations on land administration" and "illegal approval of the action to expropriate or occupy land." With decrees by President Jiang Zemin, the desertification prevention law will come into effect as of January 1, 2002, and the amendments to the criminal law became effective today. Li Peng, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said at the conclusion of the legislative session that the legislation is aimed at better protecting the ecological environment in an effort to fulfill sustainable development of China. "The long-term interests of the Chinese people, such as environmental resources, must not be sacrificed for immediate economic interests," he said. The session also passed a decision to designate the third Saturday of every September as the Day of National Defense Education. Li Peng called it "a decision with profound significance" because the awareness of national defense among the general public, especially among youngsters, has to be enhanced. "The world is far from being peaceful since regional conflicts occur frequently, hegemonism runs wild and reunification of China has not be fulfilled," he said. The legislators agreed to appoint Du Qinglin as the new Minister of Agriculture to replace Chen Yaobang. |
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