Wang Chao (C, rear), spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2023. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference Saturday, one day before the opening of its annual session. Photo:Xinhua

The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee has initiated legislation plans, with this year's agenda to focus on key, emerging fields, and those linked to foreign relations, a spokesperson for the NPC said Saturday, a day before the opening of the first session of the 14th NPC. Experts said the new legislative priorities are designed to address issues in new development trends, and provide legal guardrails for China's continued development and foreign relations.

Wang Chao, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th NPC, said on a Saturday press conference that the NPC Standing Committee is gathering information on the legislative plan from all sections of society.

He noted that the NPC Standing Committee will deliberate on the bills of eight aspects, including building a high-standard socialist market economy, guaranteeing and improving people's lives, as well as pushing for green development.

Legislation work plan is an important component in every year's two sessions, and this year's legislation work will probably take bold strides as it is the first year of many newly elected delegates of the NPC in their five-year term, Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, told the Global Times.

Wang Chao (C, rear), spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2023. The NPC, China's national legislature, held a press conference Saturday, one day before the opening of its annual session. Photo:Xinhua

Moreover, China's development has arrived at a crucial stage in which the whole nation is striving to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, thus legislation needs to be adjusted to meet new development demands, said Su. He believes that legislation guiding China's international engagement is set to provide legal guardrails for China to weather the impact of a complicated international atmosphere.

Last year, China unveiled its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and other laws to respond to reckless sanctions imposed by certain foreign countries. Wang said China has always been firmly opposed to "long-arm jurisdiction." This law is a basic law in the field of foreign affairs, and it is necessary to make provisions on countermeasures and restrictive measures in principle.

Moreover, one agenda of the 14th NPC is that NPC deputies will deliberate on a draft amendment to the Legislation Law.

In October last year, Zang Tiewei, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, said that NPC deputies would deliberate a draft amendment to China's Legislation Law. The draft amendment also aims to improve the system and mechanism for coordination between legislative and reform decisions, Zang said.