BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, started its 24th session Tuesday in Beijing.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session's first plenary meeting.
Lawmakers reviewed the draft amendments to the NPC organic law and the NPC procedural rules. The two drafts, under the second reading, have made stipulations for the NPC and NPC Standing Committee to better hear people's comments and suggestions.
A draft revision to the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency was submitted to the session for a third reading. The draft proposes giving guardians more responsibilities in educating minors to prevent juvenile delinquency.
A draft Yangtze River conservation law returned to the legislature for a third reading. The draft proposes heavier fines for violations such as illegal sand mining.
Lawmakers reviewed the draft Amendment XI to the Criminal Law, which stipulates heavier criminal penalties for intellectual property rights infringements.
A draft revision to the Law on National Defense was submitted for a second reading. The draft has further specified the system for civilian personnel.
The NPC Constitution and Law Committee suggested the draft revision to the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, the draft Yangtze River conservation law, the draft Amendment XI to the Criminal Law and the draft revision to the Law on National Defense be passed at the session.
A draft law on promoting rural vitalization returned for a second reading. The draft has added new provisions on conserving food and preventing waste, and consolidating achievements in poverty alleviation.
Lawmakers reviewed a draft anti-food waste law, which stipulates the principles, requirements, responsibilities, oversight measures and legal liabilities for preventing food waste.
A draft supervisors law was submitted for the first reading. The draft specifies the duties of supervisors in anti-graft organs and is expected to ensure that the supervisory power is properly exercised.
Lawmakers deliberated a draft coast guard law, a draft Hainan free trade port law, a draft anti-organized crime law and draft revisions to the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, the Military Service Law and the Law on the Protection of Military Installations, as well as a draft law on the protection of the status, rights and interests of military personnel.
Three draft decisions on strengthening the oversight of state assets management, establishing an intellectual property court in the Hainan free trade port and convening the fourth annual session of the 13th NPC were heard at the meeting, respectively.
Lawmakers also reviewed an extradition treaty with Turkey and heard deputy qualification and personnel matters.