The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, concluded its fourth session on Thursday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Party and state leaders attended the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
At the meeting, lawmakers approved the government work report and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development.
They voted to adopt the Ecological and Environmental Code, the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law and the National Development Planning Law.
Lawmakers voted to pass a resolution on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 plan for national economic and social development, and approved the 2026 plan.
They voted to pass a resolution on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the central and local budgets for 2026, and approved the central budget for 2026.
Lawmakers voted to adopt a resolution on the work report of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, a resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Court, and a resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
They also voted to adopt a decision on approving the report of the 14th NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered a speech at the closing meeting.
This year's session of the NPC opened on March 5.
China's national legislature concludes annual session
China's national legislature concludes annual session
China's national legislature concludes annual session
China will formulate more effective laws and regulations in 2026, covering key areas, emerging fields, and foreign-related domains, Minister of Justice He Rong said in an interview in Beijing on Thursday.
Legislative efforts will focus on four fronts this year to ensure that the rule of law aligns more effectively with reform, development, and stability, while better upholding social fairness and justice, the minister said after the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
"Firstly, we will improve the business environment by formulating regulations for building a unified national market. Efforts will be made to address issues of concern, such as local protection, the imposition of improper market access restrictions, and rat-race competition," said the minister.
"Secondly, we will promote sci-tech innovation. Artificial intelligence has become a 'buzzword' at this year's two sessions. In 2026, we will accelerate research on legislation in fields such as artificial intelligence and the law-altitude economy, revise the Road Traffic Safety Law and formulate regulations on airspace management," He said.
"Thirdly, legislation will place greater emphasis on safeguarding people's livelihood and promoting common prosperity, aiming to meet the public's growing demand for better legal protections in areas such as food, housing, clothing, and transportation. This year, administrative regulations will be formulated and implemented concerning water supply, pharmaceutical administration, road transport management, and housing safety," the minister said.
"Fourthly, we will strengthen services to advance high-level opening-up. We will advance the formulation of laws and regulations related to trade, investment, and customs clearance facilitation," the minister said.
The "two sessions," or the annual sessions of the NPC, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, concluded on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.
China to strengthen legislation in key sectors, emerging fields, foreign-related domains: minister
