Top legislature approves laws, decision

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, concluded its sixth session on Tuesday in Beijing.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a revised Marine Environment Protection Law, the Patriotic Education Law, and a decision on official appointments and removals.

Li Shangfu was removed from the posts of state councilor and defense minister, Qin Gang from the post of state councilor, Wang Zhigang from the post of minister of science and technology, and Liu Kun from the post of finance minister, according to the decision.

Yin Hejun was appointed as minister of science and technology and Lan Fo'an was appointed finance minister.

President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the laws and put the decision into effect.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting.

Lawmakers adopted a decision for the State Council to issue 1 trillion yuan ($136.79 billion) of special treasury bonds during the fourth quarter.

The funds raised will mostly be used for post-disaster reconstruction, flood prevention and management projects, and natural disaster emergency response capacity improvement projects.

The top legislature also decided to authorize the State Council to approve ceilings on some local government debt in advance.

Lawmakers ratified a treaty on the transfer of sentenced individuals between China and Colombia and an extradition treaty with Mauritius.

They ratified the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The lawmakers ratified the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Secretariat, its Personnel and Representatives of Members of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

They also approved the country's signing of the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation.

The meeting approved reports on the deliberation of the proposals brought forward by deputies at the first session of the 14th NPC.

The meeting voted to remove Li Shangfu from the post of member of the Central Military Commission and appoint Liu Shaoyun as head of the military court of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.