China's top legislature on Thursday ended its bimonthly session, adopting a series of bills including the long-awaited social insurance law that had been reviewed by lawmakers four times in almost three years.
The law that aims to prevent the improper use of social security funds was first submitted to the legislature in December, 2007, following a scandal in Shanghai involving 3.7 billion yuan (502.3 million U.S. dollars) of social security funds.
The law is to take effect on July 1, 2011.
In a proposal made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on formulating the country's 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015) on National Economic and Social Development issued Wednesday, the social security system is set to be improved.
The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee also voted to adopt the law on law application to civil relationships involving foreign interests, and the revised Organic Law of Villagers' Committees, regarding rural people having greater powers to remove villagers' committee members and to convene meetings to decide village affairs.
Also adopted at the close of this legislative session were the amendments to the Law on Deputies to the NPC and Local People's Congresses at Various Levels, which further specify the rights and duties of lawmakers.
Lawmakers also adopted a decision to appoint Vice President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China.
Born in 1953, Xi was appointed by the CPC Central Committee on Oct. 18 as vice-chairman of the CMC of the party.
Xi has served in a number of positions related to the armed forces and military reserve affairs during his previous tenures at national and local levels.
The top legislature also expelled Li Qihong, former deputy secretary of Zhongshan Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China in southern Guangdong Province and former mayor of Zhongshan City, from the top legislature on suspicion of "seriously violating disciplines" concerning economic activities.
