Li Zhanshu (C), chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of a bimonthly session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) closed its four-day bimonthly session Friday, adopting legal decisions and a report on the government's final accounts for 2017.
Presiding over the closing meeting, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, called for efforts on institutional reform, solid waste pollution, and forming a statistical system for high-quality development.
He stressed the importance of publicity and research on people's congress while advancing modern legislative work.
At the closing meeting, lawmakers adopted a decision on the duties of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee.
Besides continuing duties including reviewing draft laws, the committee will perform new duties such as the implementation and interpretation of the Constitution, constitutional examination, strengthening supervision, and coordinating with Constitution publicity, according to the decision.
Another decision on maritime rights protection and law enforcement by the China Coast Guard was also approved.
A draft amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law, which was given a first reading at the session, raises the minimum threshold for personal income tax from 3,500 yuan (about 544 U.S. dollars) per month to 5,000 yuan.
The amendment adds special expense deductions for items like children's education, continuing education, treatment for serious diseases, as well as housing loan interest and rent.
In addition, the draft e-commerce law was submitted to the top legislature for a third reading, further regulating online market order and protecting consumer rights.
During the session, lawmakers deliberated reports on deputy qualifications, official appointments and dismissals, national sci-tech projects and solid waste disposal.
On Friday, top legislator Li Zhanshu granted appointment certificates to members of the Hong Kong basic law committee and presided over a chairpersons' meeting of the NPC Standing Committee.
After the session was concluded, an oath-taking ceremony was held for newly-appointed officials to pledge their allegiance to the Constitution.
The 13th NPC currently has 2,981 deputies.
Li Zhanshu (R, front), chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, grants certificate of appointment to a member of the Hong Kong basic law committee of the NPC Standing Committee during a bimonthly session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2018. The bimonthly session concluded here on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
Minister of Ecology and Environment Li Ganjie (front) holds a lecture on the goal of building a Beautiful China after the conclusion of a bimonthly session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2018. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the bimonthly session's closing meeting. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
Cao Jianming (1st R), vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over an oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed officials to pledge their allegiance to the Constitution after the conclusion of a bimonthly session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
