The National Park Law adopted at the 17th session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Sept 12, 2025, will take effect on Jan 1, 2026.  

To promote the comprehensive and effective implementation of the law, the NPC's Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec 27. Wang Dongming and Ding Zhongli, vice-chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the meeting, which was presided over by Lu Xinshe, chairperson of the Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee.

Wang said that the enactment and implementation of the National Park Law marks a a new stage of law-based and standardized development for China's national park initiative, following a decade of pilot exploration. It is a crucial step in promoting the high-quality development of national parks and continuously advancing ecological civilization, he added.

The effective implementation of the law is an essential requirement for promoting the development of national parks through law-based thinking and methods, and a practical need for high-quality development of national parks, he noted.

Wang emphasized the importance of accurately grasping the purposes and provisions of the National Park Law. He called for efforts to uphold the Party's overall leadership in national park development, fully implement statutory responsibilities, scientifically determine the overall layout of national parks, coordinate high-level protection and development, adhere to a people-centered approach and achieve a unity of ecological protection, green development and livelihood improvement.

All relevant parties should further enhance their sense of mission and responsibility, earnestly promote the implementation of the law, ensure its vigorous enforcement and translate the legislative achievements into concrete practices in the high-quality development of national parks, he said.

Officials from relevant departments, experts and NPC deputies were present at the meeting.