Special pardons issued for PRC's 70th anniversary

China will grant nine categories of prisoners special pardons to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China as a step to uphold governance by the rule of law and to improve the protection of human rights.

The decision was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, at its bimonthly session, which closed on Saturday. President Xi Jinping signed and issued an order for the special pardons that same day.

These will be the ninth special pardons since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.