National legislature makes progress in oversight

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), delivers a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee during the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 12th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, March 9 - China's national legislature has made progress in the provision of more oversight, the legislature leader Zhang Dejiang said Wednesday.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) inspected compliance with six laws over the past year, including the Law on Vocational Education and the Law on the Protection of Consumers' Rights and Interests, Zhang said at the NPC annual session.

Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said in the annual work report that he and vice chairpersons headed inspection groups to localities to oversee and inspect compliance with these laws and on this basis, delivered reports on the findings at meetings of the NPC Standing Committee and chaired inquiries on related specific issues.

Zhang led a group and oversaw the implementation of the Law on Vocational Education, after which the NPC Standing Committee heard and deliberated a report from the State Council on the work it did in response to its compliance inspection report and the legislature's comments.

"Our efforts in this regard have contributed to the improvement of relevant government work," Zhang said.

Thanks to the oversight work of the legislature, the relevant departments formulated and implemented guidelines on encouraging the incorporation of vocational education providers into groups, resulting in the formation of over 1,000 vocational education groups nationwide.

The national legislature also strengthened the review and oversight of government budgets and final accounts.

Zhang said that the legislature will strengthen its supervision power in 2016, helping push forward structural reform and the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).

The national legislature will also strengthen oversight over the enforcement of the Constitution, the compliance with six laws, and strengthen oversight over government budgets and final accounts, Zhang told national lawmakers.