A draft law allowing more public consultation in the planning of
China's cities and countryside will be discussed by China's
legislature this month.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC)
will deliberate on the draft urban and rural planning law at the
session beginning on April 24.
The law is intended to force local governments to solicit expert
opinions and hold public hearings before approving an urban or
rural development plan. Some urban or rural development programs
are inconsistent with the local environmental conditions or public
demand.
The NPC will also deliberate on the draft amendment to the
Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, which is intended to strengthen
animal epidemic surveillance, early warning and financial guarantee
systems, so as to better respond severe animal epidemics, such as
bird flu.
The four-day legislative session will also continue to discuss
the draft labor contract law, according to the agenda set at a
meeting of the NPC Standing Committee chairman and
vice-chairpersons presided over by top legislator Wu Bangguo on
Monday.
Under the Constitution, deputies of the 11th NPC must be elected
before the end of January 2008. The fifth session of the 10th NPC
adopted a resolution on the election of 11th NPC deputies and other
electoral matters in March.
The NPC Standing Committee chairman and vice-chairpersons
meeting framed a draft plan for the election, guaranteeing the
broadest social representation in NPC, and draft methods for
ensuring a proper ratio of deputies from ethnic minorities and for
electing Taiwanese deputies.
The three drafts will be discussed at the upcoming legislative
session.
Legislators will also deliberate and ratify extradition treaties
with Namibia and Angola.
The session will hear and deliberate on a State Council report
on the protection of the lawful investment rights of Taiwan
people.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2007)