NPC session adopts Civil Law, decides to proceed with Hong Kong security law
June 2, 2020 Category NPC '& CPPCC sessions, Weekly
At the closing of the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) on May 28 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the delegates approved the Civil Law and adopted a decision to go forward with formulating national security legislation for Hong Kong. The NPC Standing Committee is entrusted with drafting the law, which will be included in an annex to the Basic Law of Hong Kong. The law will come into force upon promulgation, probably in August.
In a video press conference after the session, Premier Li Keqiang said that China is expected to achieve positive economic growth this year if security in the six key areas of job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments can be assured. China has set no specific target for economic growth this year due to great uncertainties. Instead, it has made practical plans to ensure more than 9 million new urban jobs, give full play to over 100 million market entities, and improve people’s livelihoods. Not setting a specific growth target does not mean economic development is not important, Li said. “We want to promote higher quality development,” he added. The policies and measures are designed to provide vital relief to businesses and revitalize the markets, with a particular focus on keeping jobs and protecting people’s livelihoods instead of undertaking large infrastructure construction projects. “This is because big change has taken place in China’s economic structure where consumption is now the primary engine driving growth, and micro, small and medium-sized companies now provide over 90% of all jobs in China today,” Premier Li said.
Li said money invested in the people will be able to generate new wealth, help protect and preserve tax sources, and make public finances more sustainable. Covid-19 has taken a heavy toll on the global economy in a way rarely seen before, Li said. “As China’s economy has become deeply integrated into the global economy, it is simply impossible for it to stay immune to the impact.” China will be able to fulfill the tasks and goals for the whole year and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Li said, adding that keeping China’s economic fundamentals stable will contribute to the whole world. China, a huge market for the world, is prepared to boost imports, Li said, noting measures to provide relief and revitalize the market are expected to further spur consumption. To facilitate foreign investment, China will further implement the foreign investment law, shorten the negative list for foreign investment, further open up the services sector, and improve the business environment.
On U.S.-China relations, Premier Li said that decoupling does no good to either side and will harm the world as the two countries are major economies and their ties are crucial. China and the U.S. must use wisdom to expand common interests and properly manage differences. U.S.-China relations are expected to deteriorate further as a Canadian judge ruled that the extradition case of Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou can proceed and the U.S. is expected to further impose sanctions on China for implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong.
The National People’s Congress (NPC) said it would prioritize legislation on public health this year. It plans to revise the Wildlife Protection Law, the Law on the Prevention and Control of infectious Diseases, the Frontier Health and Quarantine Law, and the Emergency Response Law in 2020. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, the top legislature has issued a decision to completely ban the illegal trade and consumption of wildlife, and to clarify epidemic prevention and control laws. China currently has over 30 laws on public health, but Zhang Yesui, Spokesperson for the third session of the 13th NPC, noted that there are still some weak links and shortcomings in the legal framework, and the NPC Standing Committee will further strengthen China’s public health legislation. Lawmakers are expected to review and approve the country’s biosecurity law this year, following a second reading in April, the Shanghai Daily reports.
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