The 27th session of the Standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's national legislature, concluded in Beijing on Friday, with the appointment of four new ministers and the ousting of one NPC deputy.

Legislators on Friday voted to approve the cabinet nomination of Yang Jiechi, former ambassador to the United States and vice foreign minister, as the country's new foreign minister.

Yang, 57, replaces Li Zhaoxing, 66, who has served as China's top diplomat since 2003. Chinese ministers usually retire at the age of 65.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) also approved the nomination of Wan Gang, president of Shanghai's Tongji University, as minister of science and technology, replacing Xu Guanhua.

Xu Shaoshi replaces Sun Wensheng as minister of land and resources. Chen Lei is appointed minister of water resources, replacing Wang Shucheng.

The Friday session also voted to terminate the NPC deputy qualification of Chen Pengfei, former board director of Aerospace Communications Holdings Co. (ACHC).

Chen is suspected of "severely violating disciplines".

According to the NPC bulletin, the 10th NPC currently has 2,974 deputies.

The session ratified extradition treaties between China and Angola and China and Namibia.

The session adopted three plans for the election of deputies to the 11th NPC.

In his address to the NPC Standing Committee, chairman Wu Bangguo said that the top priority for the NPC Standing Committee this year is to reinforce social legislation.

"During the just-concluded legislative session, we read the draft Labor Contract Law for the third time. In February, the NPC Standing Committee read the draft Employment Promotion Law for the first time and solicited public comments. The NPC Standing Committee is planning to deliberate the draft labor insurance law and draft labor dispute arbitration law in the second half of 2007," he said.

All the laws concern people's immediate interests and are of great significance to building a harmonious socialist society, he said.

Wu said in 2004, legislators checked the implementation of the law on preventing animal epidemics and suggested amendments. The draft amendments have now been submitted for a first reading.

Wu said China is experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization. There is tremendous activity in the urban and rural construction sector which means plans need to be constantly reviewed, monitored and improved.

During the legislative session, many legislators raised their suggestions on the draft city and countryside planning law, saying that the law should encourage far-sighted, feasible city and countryside construction plans that are impervious to presumptuous changes by local officials, Wu said.

Wu said legislators also heard and deliberated the State Council report on protecting the legitimate investment rights of Taiwan compatriots.

Legislators said government departments should carefully implement the Taiwan compatriot investment protection law, improving the investment environment and the quality of services, so that Taiwanese businessmen can run successful businesses on the mainland. This will contribute to positive cross-Strait relations, they said.

Wu also presided over a legislative lecture on improving urban and rural planning laws and promoting healthy urbanization.

Source: Xinhua