China’s national legislature kick-starts first constitutional reform in 14 years

BEIJING - A draft amendment to China's Constitution has ben submitted to the national legislature for deliberation and is expected to enshrine Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the fundamental law of the country.

"The constitutional revision is a major move to advance law-based governance and modernise China's system and capacity for governance," said Wang Chen, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), when briefing around 3,000 deputies to the 13th NPC on the revision.

China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, reported that other proposals for inclusion in the Bill are a new vision of innovative, coordinated, green and open development for everyone; the five-sphere integrated plan for co-ordinated economic, political, cultural, social and ecological advancement; the goal of a "great modern socialist country"; and an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

A revision to a clause concerning the Chinese President's term of office was also proposed. And a new section about supervisory commissions is proposed to be added to the Constitution's third chapter, which is titled "The Structure of the State".  www.webershandwick,cn (ATI).