China's national legislature kick-starts first constitutional revision in 14 years

A draft amendment to China's Constitution was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation on Monday and is expected to enshrine Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the fundamental law of the country.

"The constitutional revision is a major move to advance law-based governance and modernize China's system and capacity for governance," said Wang Chen, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, when briefing around 3,000 deputies to the 13th NPC on the revisions.

The draft suggests Xi's thought be juxtaposed with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the Theory of Three Represents as a new guiding theory in the preamble of the Constitution.