The 8th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress concluded in Beijing with a significant decision made. The meeting voted to pass the newly revised Law on Keeping State Secrets. This crucial legislation was signed into effect by President Xi Jinping, who announced it during the meeting. Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the Standing Committee, presided over the session which took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
With 165 members of the Standing Committee in attendance, the meeting had the necessary quorum to proceed with its agenda. Among the key decisions made was the approval in principle of the draft work report of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. It was recommended that Chairman Zhao Leji report on the work to the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress on behalf of the Standing Committee.
Additionally, the meeting voted and approved the report of the Representative Qualification Review Committee on the representative qualifications of individual representatives. Various appointments and dismissals were also voted on during the session.
Looking ahead, the meeting approved the draft agenda and list of presidium and secretary-general for the upcoming second session of the 14th National People’s Congress. These decisions will be submitted for review at the preparatory meeting for the second session. The list of attendees for the session was also confirmed.
Top officials attending the meeting included Vice Chairman Li Hongzhong and other members of the Standing Committee, as well as representatives from the State Council, Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the National Supervisory Commission. Various special committees of the National People’s Congress and officials from provincial, autonomous, and municipal people’s congresses were also present.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, the Standing Committee held a special lecture on “Chinese-Style Modernization and the Rule of Law.” This lecture, chaired by Chairman Zhao Leji, featured insights from Xu Xianming, Vice President of the China Law Society.
The decisions made during this meeting will have a lasting impact on governance and the protection of state secrets in China.