China's top legislature concludes annual session

The closing meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the meeting, and Li Zhanshu presided over the closing meeting and delivered a speech. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING — The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its annual session on May 28.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders including Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the closing meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The closing meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li Zhanshu, an executive chairperson of the presidium of the session, presided over the meeting attended by nearly 3,000 NPC deputies.

Lawmakers adopted the Civil Code, which is to take effect on Jan 1, 2021. Xi signed a presidential order to promulgate the Civil Code.

The meeting also adopted the NPC Decision on Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security, which became effective upon its release on May 28.

The closing meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. Li Zhanshu presided over the closing meeting and delivered a speech. [Photo/Xinhua]

Addressing the meeting, Li Zhanshu said that making major strategic achievements in fighting COVID-19 in about three months has demonstrated the great strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Civil Code, the first law defined as a "code" of the People's Republic of China, is a milestone legislation for fully advancing China's law-based governance and improving the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics, he said.

As for the decision to make national security laws for the Hong Kong SAR, Li said that it serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots.

He also praised the Chinese people's spirit of innovation, struggle, cherishing unity and pursuing dreams, saying those have formed the fundamental force to drive the country forward in spite of all difficulties.

The closing meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

At the meeting, legislators approved the plan for the national economic and social development and the central budget for 2020.

They also approved resolutions on the government work report, and the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Before the closing meeting, Li presided over the meetings of the presidium of the session and the presidium's executive chairpersons.