Amended law signals wider legal reform

The NPC votes to update the cornerstone of China's legal system to dispel confusion and prepare the way for more changes, as Zhang Yi reports.

China's top legislative body has ratified an amendment to the Legislation Law, the foundation of the nation's legal system, to make the process of formulating and enacting laws more efficient and to reinforce the rule of law.

The amendment, ratified at the closing session of this year's National People's Congress on Sunday, is part of a process of ongoing legal reform. About 3,000 deputies voted, with 2,761 in favor of the amendment, while 81 voted against and 33 abstained. The number of "yes" votes easily outnumbered the dissenters, thus fulfilling the constitutional requirements for passing the amendment.