The 24th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress was held in Beijing, where medical issues were reviewed.
Draft Law on Safeguarding, Draft Amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law, and other items—chaired by Zhao Leji.

2026-08-25 Source: “Study in China” Learning Platform

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — The 24th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress held its first plenary meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of the 25th. The meeting was chaired by Chairman Zhao Leji.

A total of 149 members of the Standing Committee attended the meeting, and the quorum was duly met.

The meeting heard a report by Cong Bin, Vice Chairman of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People’s Congress, on the deliberation results of the draft Medical Security Law. The third‑reading draft adds “implementing the strategy of prioritizing health” to the law’s legislative objectives, further refines provisions related to the medical security system, strengthens regulations governing the use and management of medical security funds, specifies requirements for settling medical expenses incurred when seeking treatment in another locality, introduces provisions on long-term care insurance, and improves relevant provisions on legal liability, among other measures.

The meeting heard a report delivered by Xin Chunying, Chairperson of the Constitution and Law Committee, on the deliberation results of the draft Law on Farmland Protection and Quality Enhancement. The third‑reading draft adds provisions encouraging universities, research institutes, and other institutions to strengthen talent development in the areas of farmland protection and quality improvement; clarifies that land within river and lake management zones shall, in principle, not be used as a source for replenishing farmland; strengthens oversight and management of funds allocated to high‑standard farmland construction; introduces measures for comprehensive remediation of farmland affected by desertification, wind erosion, and water erosion, with a focus on preventing and controlling soil and water loss; and enhances efforts to protect black soils, among other provisions.

The meeting heard a report by Xin Chunying on the deliberation results of the draft amendment to the Agricultural Law. The second‑reading draft refines measures to support agricultural and rural economic development, enriches provisions on international exchanges and cooperation in the agricultural sector, strengthens safeguards for farmers’ rights and interests, enhances rural development and governance, and further ensures consistency with laws such as the Ecological Environment Code.

The meeting heard a report by Luo Yuan, Vice Chair of the Constitution and Law Committee, on the deliberation results of the draft amendment to the National Defense Mobilization Law. The second‑reading draft clarifies the concept of national defense mobilization; further specifies provisions governing the collection, use, and security management of national defense mobilization data; adds provisions to promote the application of advanced technologies and develop national defense mobilization capabilities in emerging fields; and establishes prohibitive regulations against the fabrication and dissemination of false information related to national defense mobilization, among other measures.

The meeting heard a report by Yuan Shuhong, Vice Chair of the Constitution and Law Committee, on the deliberation results of the draft amendment to the Lawyers Law. The draft explicitly designates the Constitution as the basis for legislation; further refines the provisions related to foreign-related legal services; and adds provisions that are aligned with the Legal Aid Law, among other measures.

The meeting heard a report by Wang Hongxiang, Vice Chairman of the Constitution and Law Committee, on the revisions to the draft amendment to the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law. The second‑reading draft further refines and improves the institutional framework governing the bankruptcy of joint and several personal debtors, thereby safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of both creditors and debtors; it clarifies that, during the review of a bankruptcy application, the people’s court may order the temporary suspension of enforcement proceedings against the debtor’s assets; it expands the scope of bankruptcy administrators; it enhances the mechanisms for reorganization, fully leveraging their role in rescuing enterprises in distress; and it adjusts and optimizes the provisions on the priority of repayment from bankruptcy assets, among other measures.

The meeting heard a report by Yuan Shuhong on the revisions to the draft amendment of the Banking Supervision and Administration Law. The second‑reading draft adds “to enhance the quality and effectiveness of financial services in supporting the real economy” to the law’s legislative objectives; introduces provisions for classified and tiered supervision and administration of banking financial institutions; further strengthens oversight of part-time employment and post‑employment professional activities by staff of banking supervisory authorities; includes new rules on the issuance and standardized use of financial licenses; clarifies and reinforces the responsibilities of supervisory authorities while improving the system for protecting the rights and interests of banking consumers; and establishes a separate chapter on “Risk Resolution,” thereby strengthening risk‑resolution measures, among other changes.

The meeting heard a report by Cong Bin on the revisions to the draft amendment of the Water Law. The second‑reading draft has been aligned with the Ecological and Environmental Code, further refining the overarching requirements for water resource protection and development and utilization. It explicitly stipulates the coordinated management of water resources, the water environment, aquatic ecosystems, and flood‑disaster control, and provides that the state shall strengthen the protection of water‑related cultural heritage. In addition, the draft expands provisions on national water‑network construction, enriches and improves regulations on water resource and aquatic ecosystem protection, and further refines rules on water conservation and the recycling of water resources.

To improve the road traffic safety management system and strengthen the legal safeguards for maintaining road traffic order, preventing and reducing traffic accidents, enhancing road traffic efficiency, and protecting the personal and property safety of the public, the State Council has submitted a proposal to deliberate on a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law. Acting on behalf of the State Council, Minister of Justice He Rong provided an explanatory statement.

To thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, to prevent and punish cross-border corruption, to deepen international cooperation in combating corruption, to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals, and to uphold national sovereignty, security, and development interests, the National Supervisory Commission has submitted a proposal to deliberate on a draft law against cross-border corruption. Liu Jingguo, Director of the National Supervisory Commission, provided an explanatory statement.

Entrusted by the State Council, Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying presented an explanatory statement on the proposal to submit for deliberation and approval the Extradition Treaty between the People’s Republic of China and Hungary.

Entrusted by the State Council, Wang Changlin, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, presented a report on the implementation of the national economic and social development plan since the beginning of this year. The report noted that, so far this year, the economy has remained generally stable while making steady progress, exhibiting a development trajectory characterized by shifting growth drivers and an improving structural profile. Both supply‑side and demand‑side structures have continued to optimize, new‑type productive forces are accelerating their development, high‑quality development is being steadily advanced, and overall social stability has been maintained, resulting in both qualitative improvements and reasonable quantitative growth. In the second half of the year, efforts will focus on implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan, enhancing the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies, more vigorously unleashing the potential of domestic demand, fostering innovation to lead the construction of a modern industrial system, comprehensively deepening reform and expanding opening‑up, promoting coordinated development between urban and rural areas as well as among regions, accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, strengthening security capacity building in key areas, adopting multiple measures to safeguard and improve people’s livelihoods, and prudently and orderly defusing risks in priority sectors.

Entrusted by the State Council, Vice Minister of Finance Lin Zechang presented a report on budget execution since the beginning of this year. The report noted that fiscal policy has become more proactive and targeted, with overall stability in budget implementation and fiscal operations. It also outlined progress in implementing the budgetary resolutions adopted at the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress and set forth key priorities for the next phase of fiscal work: precisely and effectively deploying a more proactive fiscal policy; accelerating the development of a modern industrial system; earnestly safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods; strengthening risk prevention and resolution in key areas; continuously deepening fiscal management reforms; and enhancing comprehensive, end-to-end fiscal oversight.

Entrusted by the State Council, Lin Zechang presented a report on the management of government debt for 2025. The meeting also heard a supervisory research report on the management of government debt for 2025, delivered by Xu Hongcai, Vice Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People’s Congress and Director of the Budget Work Committee of the Standing Committee.

Entrusted by the State Council, Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli delivered a report on efforts to enhance the quality of cultural products and services. The report outlined relevant measures and their outcomes, identified key challenges, and proposed that, in the next phase, China will refine institutional mechanisms and support systems, continuously strengthen its capacity to deliver high-quality offerings, adopt a multi-pronged approach to improve service quality, intensify the application of science and technology to foster cultural innovation, and further promote the global outreach of Chinese culture.

Entrusted by the State Council, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Mairdan Mugaiti delivered a report on consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation and making solid progress in the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. The report outlined the outcomes of these efforts, as well as the difficulties and challenges currently faced in implementing regularized assistance and advancing rural revitalization. It proposed that, going forward, political responsibility will be strengthened and accountability at all levels will be firmly enforced; the monitoring system will be improved and targeted support measures will be fully implemented; the quality and effectiveness of industrial and employment‑related assistance will be enhanced to continuously consolidate the foundation for income growth; underdeveloped regions will receive tiered and categorized support to accelerate the addressing of development gaps; and the experience gained from the “Ten‑Million Project” will be further studied and applied to promote the construction of livable, workable, and beautiful countryside.

The meeting heard a report on the qualifications of certain deputies, presented by Yang Xiaochao, Chairman of the Credentials Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The meeting also reviewed relevant appointment and removal proposals.

Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Losang Jiangcun, and Shu Keraiti Zakir, Vice Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, along with Secretary-General Liu Qi, attended the meeting.

Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing, President of the Supreme People’s Court Zhang Jun, Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate Ying Yong, members of the special committees of the National People’s Congress, leading officials of the standing committees of the people’s congresses of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, principal officials of the standing committees of the people’s congresses of certain sub-provincial cities, some deputies to the National People’s Congress, and responsible officials from relevant departments attended the meeting as non-voting participants.

Editor-in-charge: Yang Xin