Legislators working on draft law to protect Yangtze River

By Hou Liqiang | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2019-03-09 10:28

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Chen Xiwen, chairman of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Uzhitu, vice-chairman of Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the NPC, Liu Junchen and Xu Anbiao, both vice-chairman of Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, and Cheng Lifeng, member of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Committee of the NPC, attend a press conference on the legislative work of the NPC for the second session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, March 9, 2019. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Legislators are busy drafting the Yangtze River protection law to promote the green development of the longest river in Asia, a senior legislator said on Saturday.

A leading work group involving the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Committee of the National People's Congress, the Supreme People's court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and various central government departments has been set up, Cheng Lifeng, a member of the NPC Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Committee, said at a news conference on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions.

A work plan for the legislation, which includes basic principles, work procedure and schedule, has been made, he said.

He said the NPC's Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Committee, which is heading the drafting work, has conducted seminars and on-site research to collect suggestions. It has visited at least six of the total 19 provincial-level regions along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and held seminars with local legislators, entrepreneurs, experts and law enforcement officers.

The committee has also collected suggestions from various central government bodies with the State Council and experts in Beijing, Cheng said.

Following further and comprehensive research and suggestion collection, the team will make all-out effort to submit the draft to the top legislature on time, he said.