The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature, will deliberate the draft law on coping with emergencies and draft farmers' cooperatives law at an upcoming legislative session to begin on June 24.

According to a source from the NPC, the law on coping with emergencies will focus on the prevention of disasters and accidents.

China is frequently hit by natural disasters and other accidents but its emergency response system has been criticized for not being well enough developed. Governmental departments failed to coordinate emergency response and their ability to prevent, monitor, warn and handling emergencies remains weak, the source said, adding that "the draft law on coping with emergencies is of great importance."

According a meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons on Friday, the NPC Standing Committee has decided the 22nd session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee will be convened from June 24 to 29.

During the legislative session, the legislature will continue to discuss the draft sixth amendment to Criminal Law, the draft amendment to compulsory education law, the draft law on supervision, the draft partnership law.

The legislature will also discuss and ratify the convention on the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters, Treaty on Transfer of the Sentenced Persons between China and Spain, the Treaty on Criminal Matters between China and Mexico.

Also during the session, the State Council will deliver a report on the 2005 final accounts and a report on the execution of 2005 central budget.

The enforcement reports of the patent law and the law on the protection of the rights of returned Chinese, made by the law enforcement inspection groups under the NPC Standing Committee, will be heard and discussed during the legislative session.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2006)