China's top legislature opens bi-monthly session

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the 13th meeting of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 25, 2015. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, Feb. 25  -- A bi-monthly session of China's top legislature opened on Wednesday, which will prepare for the upcoming annual parliamentary session, and continue the review on draft legislation for the country's first counterterrorism law.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the opening meeting of the session, which runs from Wednesday through Friday.

The meeting will prepare for the upcoming annual session of the NPC, slated for next month.

A draft report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee was tabled for review by lawmakers. The report will be submitted to the annual session if adopted by the Standing Committee members.

Lawmakers discussed the agenda of the annual session, the candidates for the session's presidium and secretary-general, as well as the list of observers at the session.

They also reviewed draft legislation for the counterterrorism law, tabled for a second reading this time, which included an updated definition of the term "terrorism". The draft also proposed better aerospace control in China to guard against potential drone attacks.

In addition, the meeting saw a bill on revisions to the Law on Promoting the Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements tabled for its first hearing. This will be the first amendment attempt since the law took effect in 1996.

The revision aims to introduce incentive mechanisms that motivate research establishments and scientists, and ensure enterprises play a leading role in making academic inventions more market-oriented.

Lawmakers also reviewed a draft decision by the State Council, China's cabinet, to better protect farmers' property rights in 33 county-level areas selected to pilot rural land use reform measures.

Wednesday's agenda also included reviews on three international treaties, including a cooperation pact between China and Turkmenistan.