BEIJING, June 24 -- Chinese officials will pledge their allegiance to the Constitution when assuming office, according to a draft legal document submitted to China's top legislature Wednesday for deliberation.

All officials elected or appointed by people's congresses and their standing committees at both national and local levels, as well as state functionaries appointed by people's governments, courts and procuratorates at all levels must, in the future, take a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution while assuming office, said the draft.

While explaining the draft, Han Xiaowu, deputy secretary-general of the 12th NPC Standing Committee said on Wednesday that as the Constitution is the basic law of the country with supreme legal status, authorities, forces, state functionaries must have constitutional awareness, observe constitutional principles, uphold the constitutional spirit and perform their constitutional obligations.

"Establishing a system of pledging allegiance to the Constitution through legislation is of profound significance to ensuring loyalty to the Constitution in state functionaries, by observing and safeguarding the Constitution," he said.

The 15th session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, began here Wednesday afternoon and continues for eight days.