Lawmakers work to build new civil law

National lawmakers and political advisers have engaged in heated discussions during the ongoing two sessions over draft general provisions of civil law - new statutory language that would lay a foundation for the protection of civil rights in China.

Some of its clauses reflecting socialist core values have been widely applauded. Others - including hot issues such as the protection of personal information - are still being worked out.

The draft, if adopted on March 15 at the conclusion of the annual plenary session of the National People's Congress, will represent the first step in the formulation of a broad Chinese Civil Code, which is expected to be complete by 2020.