China's top legislature opens bi-monthly session

Zhang Dejiang (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the opening meeting of the seventh session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 25, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

A bi-monthly session of China's top legislature opened on Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming annual parliamentary session.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the opening meeting of the session, which runs from Tuesday through Thursday.

The agenda is designed to prepare for the upcoming annual session of the NPC, to be held next month.

A draft report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee was tabled for review by lawmakers. The report will be submitted to the annual session if adopted by the Standing Committee members.

Lawmakers discussed the agenda of the annual session, the candidates for the session's presidium and secretary-general, as well as the list of observers at the session.

They also addressed motions on making December 13 a national memorial day to commemorate those killed during the Nanjing Massacre in the 1930s, and designating September 3 as "Victory Day of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression."

The meeting also saw a bill on revising the workplace safety law tabled for first hearing, in an attempt to close possible loopholes. It is the first amendment attempt since the law took effect in 2002.