China's top legislator calls for advancing people's congress work in line with Party, state priorities

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, talks with local farmers in Changling Village of Maoping Town, Zigui County, Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 23, 2026. Zhao made a research tour in central China's Hubei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

WUHAN, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, has stressed the need to plan and advance the work of the people's congress in close alignment with the central tasks of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country.

The efforts are aimed at providing sound legal safeguards for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), said Zhao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

Zhao made the remarks during an inspection tour in central China's Hubei Province from Thursday to Saturday, where he visited local legislative outreach offices, enterprises and rural households, engaging with lawmakers and local people, and inspected regional people's congresses.

Zhao stressed that people's congresses should focus on the Party Central Committee's major decisions and plans, perform duties in accordance with the law, and act with a strong sense of responsibility to better serve and safeguard overall development.

He also called for solid preparations for the upcoming fourth session of the 14th NPC, scheduled for March, including organizing deputies to study draft laws and carry out inspection and research activities, and supporting them in fulfilling their duties.

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, inspects a local legislators' liaison station in Wuchang District of Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 24, 2026. Zhao made a research tour in central China's Hubei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, talks with a local villager in Changling Village of Maoping Town, Zigui County, Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 23, 2026. Zhao made a research tour in central China's Hubei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, talks with local farmers in Changling Village of Maoping Town, Zigui County, Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 23, 2026. Zhao made a research tour in central China's Hubei Province from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)