The Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, started a five-day session on Wednesday to review eight draft laws and amendments.

Four bills, including a draft law on urban and rural planning, an amendment to the Civil Procedure Law, a revised edition of the Law on Attorneys and a draft of the revision of the Law on Conserving Energy are likely to be put to vote.

Other draft laws tabled on Wednesday to the lawmakers included a draft Administrative Mandatory Law, China's first law to regulate government administration and prevent abuses of power.

A draft law on prohibiting narcotics, a draft bill on mediation and arbitration of labor disputes and an amendment to the law on road and transportation safety will also be debated.

During the five-day session, lawmakers are also expected to vote on an Amendment on the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which was adopted by the General Council of World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2005. China joined the WTO in 2001.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over Wednesday's plenary meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)