Final session ends in agreement

The National People's Congress 2016 sessions closed on Wednesday, after deputies approved a number of important documents along with the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

The documents include the Government Work Report, the central budget and work reports from the national top court and the country's top procuratorate.

With the ongoing crackdown on corruption and an increased awareness of the rule of law, the work of the two judicial bodies - the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate - has received more support from the legislators. Fewer lawmakers voted against their reports than the previous year.

The deputies also used the session to adopt the country's first Charity Law.

As for the 13th Five-Year Plan, top legislator Zhang Dejiang said the approval of the draft plan was the key result of the two sessions this year.

Zhang said the plan offers a blueprint for national development during the coming five years and is a vital guideline to the construction of a moderately prosperous society.

"We'll make that development a priority and fully implement the plan, taking practical steps on the concepts of innovation, coordination, green principals and open and common sharing," Zhang said.

The plan had been under heated debate by deputies in the previous few days. Du Liming, a deputy from Chongqing, said he proposed that more high-speed rail routes be built in the western regions, while Tang Hongjun, another deputy, called for stronger protection of intellectual property.

Now that the two sessions have ended, the NPC's Standing Committee will start to hold meetings every other month for detailed discussions on legislation and government work.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/17/2016 page4)