China's top legislature kicks off bi-monthly session

BEIJING, June 27, 2016 -- Zhang Dejiang(C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the first plenary meeting of the 21st session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2016.(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, June 27 -- China's top legislature on Monday started its bi-monthly session, with lawmakers discussing revisions to the Wildlife Protection Law, and reviews of the civil code and the asset appraisal law, among others.

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

According to the asset appraisal draft, certified appraisers who have passed national exams, as well as others who have expertise and hands-on experience in asset evaluation, will be allowed to provide such services.

Revisions to the Wildlife Protection Law, submitted for a third reading, aim to regulate the release of captive animals to the wild.

The general rules of the civil code, submitted for its first reading, stipulates the code's basic principles -- the first step for legislation of China's civil code. During the opening meeting lawmakers agreed to set up an information disclosure system and use third-party auditors to supervise donation use and allocation.

In a bid to reform administrative approvals and optimize investment approval procedure, lawmakers reviewed drafts of six laws submitted by the State Council.

According to the draft cybersecurity law, submitted for its second reading, the country will exert more efforts to combat risks and threats to cybersecurity from abroad.

Lawmakers will later review those drafts in a group discussion, and will listen to reports concerning the central government's accounts for 2015, and review the implementation of the food safety law among others.