国内英语新闻:China's top legislature starts bimonthly session

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature started its bimonthly session Thursday to review multiple draft laws and revisions to laws.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the first plenary meeting of the session Thursday morning. A total of 166 members of the NPC Standing Committee attended the meeting.

Bills presented to the legislature include a draft revision of the drug administration law, draft amendments to the laws on land administration and urban real estate administration, and the draft resource taxes law.

The Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC suggested the above drafts be submitted to a vote for adoption at the session.

Also on the lawmakers' table is a draft law on promoting basic medical and health care, which requires efforts to prioritize the development of medical and health institutions below the county level.

Draft sections on personality rights and torts of the civil code were submitted for a third reading. The draft section of personality rights encourages body donation and further regulates studies related to human genes or embryos.

Lawmakers began reviewing a draft law on administrative discipline which aims to strengthen supervision over everyone working in the public sector who exercises public power.

Lawmakers also heard a report on ratifying extradition treaties with Sri Lanka and Vietnam respectively.

Minister of Education Chen Baosheng gave a report on preschool education to the legislators.