NPC deputies expect more legislations to drive China's high-quality development

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's top legislature -- have said they expect the enactment of more legislations in 2026 spanning from civil affairs, artificial intelligence, environmental governance to the rights of workers, the elderly, the disabled and minors, as they gather in Beijing for the fourth session of the 14th NPC.

In separate interviews on the sidelines of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th NPC on Monday, they shared their insights on the country's legislative priorities in 2026 for high-quality development.

Sun Xianzong, a civil law expert and NPC deputy, said China's future legal agenda would focus on supporting social and economic development.

"On social and economic development, there may be some new legislations in the future, e.g, those on how to implement the Civil Code and protect the private sector of the economy. The work report of the NPC Standing Committee especially emphasized the focus on people's livelihood. Therefore, there will be significant progress in legislations related to workers' rights and social security, such as those concerning the elderly, the disabled and minors," Sun said.

Huang Guisong, a NPC deputy from south China's Guangdong Province, said he expects faster legislation on artificial intelligence to match rapid technological advances.

"We should accelerate the legislation on artificial intelligence to keep up with technological developments and prevent future risks. It is necessary for us to curb risks in advance and use legal protection to promote high-quality development of AI," Huang said.

Environmental protection would be another priority, according to Liu Huaiping, vice president of the China Association of Environmental Protection Industry. He said that China has already aligned with the relevant international standards and in some areas surpassed them since quite a long time ago.

"In ecological conservation and pollution control, China has aligned with international standards since quite a long time ago. We've provided a comprehensive legal framework for China’s future environmental governance and green transition, ensuring more systematic law enforcement. And in many areas, we've already set requirements that are more stringent than the relevant international standards. This means China now holds a significant leadership position in this field and will have greater initiative in the future," Liu said.

Deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stressed the improvement in legal reforms, saying that the laws and regulations introduced at this year's "two sessions" would strengthen the business environment.

"We have seen moves to enact a series of laws, which are substantial and imperative. Only by doing so, can we enable the rest of the world to witness China's rapid progress in the rule of law, just like its economic development. When many regions around the world are involved in conflict, global human resources and capital are more willing to come to a business environment that is more stable, rule-abiding and predictable," said Chan Yuan, a NPC deputy from the HKSAR.

"The work reports of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate delivered just now also reflect our country's spirit of the rule of law. They truly mirror the philosophy behind governing the country by law and achieving Chinese modernization according to law. I believe that the level of trust from other countries and the public toward our nation is obvious," said Chan Fan, another NPC deputy from the HKSAR.

The "two sessions" are the annual meetings of NPC, and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the CPPCC.

The fourth session of the 14th NPC and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC kicked off in Beijing on March 5 and March 4, respectively.

NPC deputies expect more legislations to drive China's high-quality development

Nicaragua's co-foreign minister Valdrack Jaentschke has warned that militarism must never be allowed to rise again, as Japan's recent moves to lift its arms export ban and revise the pacifist Constitution continue to draw international concern.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Tokyo Trials, where Japan's Class-A war criminals from World War II were brought to justice.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Valdrack Jaentschke voiced his concern that today's world order is being undermined by interventionism and other challenges.

"It is necessary for us to remember that after the end of World War II, countries worked hard to build a new international order based on international law. However, regrettably, more than 80 years later, we are seeing that this once explored and attempted order is being challenged by interventionism, a confrontational mindset, and tendencies like 'might makes right.' These are precisely the conditions that gave rise to fascism and militarism in the past, which ultimately led to the tragedy of World War II," he said.

He said the international community has a responsibility to pursue a new international order -- one fundamentally grounded in peace.

"Looking back at the history more than eight decades ago and comparing it with today's reality, it is our responsibility to recognize that the world should, and must, build a new international order that is more just, fairer, rooted in international law, based on a logic of mutual benefit and shared success, and fundamentally grounded in peace," said the minister.

"Today, as we revisit the Tokyo Trials, it is meant to remind the world that such a tragedy must never be repeated -- and that we must do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again. We must stop that dark world -- born from militarism, interventionism, and fascism -- from ever returning," he said.

Nicaraguan FM warns of militarism revival