BEIJING – Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday started deliberating a draft revision to the Law on National Defense Education that is expected to enhance the national defense awareness of citizens.

The draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for a first reading.  

The standing committee started its ninth session on Tuesday to review multiple draft laws and law revisions.

The draft amendment to the accounting law was also submitted to the committee for the first reading on Tuesday.  

Atomic energy law

The lawmakers started deliberating a draft atomic energy law, with an aim to promote the sound and sustainable development of the atomic energy industry.

Comprising 53 articles in eight chapters, the draft clarifies the principles and requirements for the peaceful development and utilization of atomic energy.

It also makes stipulations on promoting the research and development as well as the utilization of atomic energy, strengthening safety oversight and management, and improving international cooperation.

The draft law is expected to provide legal guarantee for advancing sci-tech progress in the field, enhancing the competitive edge of the industry, and increasing China's composite national strength.

Statistical supervision

China is considering stepping up statistical supervision and increasing legal accountability to combat statistics fraud and other prominent issues through an amendment to the country's Statistics Law.

A draft amendment was submitted to the ongoing NPC session on Tuesday.

To enhance statistical supervision, the draft revision stipulates establishing a systematic, efficient and legally binding statistical supervision system. It also aims to create synergy by coordinating statistical supervision with other forms of oversight.

Enterprises, public institutions and other organizations that refuse or delay the submission of statistical materials will face heavier fines. Additionally, those receiving administrative penalties for breaching this law will have such infractions recorded in their social credit system and publicly disclosed in accordance with relevant regulations, according to the draft.

Promulgated in 1983, the existing Statistics Law has gone through two revisions in 1996 and 2009, and played a key role in ensuring the orderly development of the country's statistical work.  

The session's agenda also includes reviewing a draft academic degrees law, a draft tariff law, a draft energy law, and a draft revision to the Anti-Money Laundering Law, among other bills.