国内英语新闻:China closes bimonthly legislative meeting, adopts law on diplomatic personnel

BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature closed Saturday its five-day bimonthly meeting, adopted a law on diplomatic personnel and appointed a new minister of education.

    The legislation, aiming to enhance diplomatic personnel management, is the first of its kind to regulate Chinese government agents working in the 171 countries with which China has diplomatic ties.

    Top legislator Wu Bangguo said the law clarified diplomats' duties and obligations as well as titles and ranks, which was "conducive to the implementation of the country's independent foreign policy."

    Wu presided over the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.

    The session also deliberated a draft amendment to the Electoral Law, which was enacted in 1953. Lawmakers considered granting equal representation in people's congresses to rural and urban people.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, presides over the closing meeting of the 11th meeting of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, Oct. 31, 2009. Wu delivered a speech at the meeting

The draft amendment echoed Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao, who proposed in a report to the 17th CPC National Congress in October 2007 that rural and urban areas should have equal rights in election of lawmakers.

    Wu said the revision was in line with the spirit of the 17th Party congress and the conditions of the country's economic and social development.

    It ensured equal representation among people, regions and ethnic groups.

    He said the draft amendment to the Electoral Law would be submitted to a bimonthly session in December and a NPC plenary session in March next year for a second and third reading.

    Wu also reviewed the NPC's supervisory work this year, especially on the 4-trillion-yuan, two-year stimulus package announced by the central government last November to revive the economy during a global economic slowdown.

    The meeting also announced the appointment of two senior officials.

    Yuan Guiren, in replacement of Zhou Ji, was appointed minister of education.

    Li Xiaofeng was appointed chief procurator of the military procuratorate under the People's Liberation Army to replace Gao Laifu.

    At the session, lawmakers also ratified a bilateral treaty on civil and commercial judicial assistance with Brazil.