CRI听力:China Expands Legislative Power to More Cities

Chinese lawmakers are moving to expand legislative power to more than 200 different cities in China in an attempt to allow them to better address their own problems.

There are currently 49 cities which can enact laws on their own, including 27 provincial and autonomous regional capitals.

A new draft being put forward at the National People's Congress would see that list expand to include 235 more cities.

Li Jianguo is Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

"Based on opinions from all sides, the draft amendment will give all cities legislative powers and will allow them to issue local laws about rural and urban development and management, environmental protection, and preservation of historical heritage and cultural values."

Li Jianguo also says they've put in language into the bill which will avoid an overlap of legislation.

"As there are a huge number of cities and their conditions vary a lot, the legislative power should be granted step by step."

Legal observers have been suggesting a more diversified legislative program, saying local lawmakers are more suited to draft local laws to deal with their own community's specific problems.