China's top legislature began discussions Wednesday of several major draft laws and amendments which include the topics of food safety and criminal law.

The seventh session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), opened in Beijing Wednesday, presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. Full story

China's State Council, or Cabinet, will set up a food safety commission to strengthen the country's food monitoring system, whose lack of efficiency has long been blamed for repeated food scandals.

The decision was written in a draft law on food safety, which was submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, on Wednesday and is likely to be voted on Saturday after a fourth reading. Full story

Insurance company shareholders could find their rights restricted if they approve risky capital operations, according to a draft amendment to the Insurance Law, submitted to Chinese lawmakers for discussion Wednesday.

The draft amendment says the State Council's insurance regulatory body will have the right to order the insurance company's shareholders to stop affiliate company transactions that seriously harm the company's interests and undermine its solvency. Full story

China's top legislature on Wednesday started to debate an amendment to the Criminal Law that aims to protect the personal information from being divulged and abused.

If approved by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee at the end of a four-day session in Beijing on Saturday, the article would forbid staff in government offices, financial, medical and educational institutions, transport and communications departments who usually have access to personal information, to sell or leak such information. Full story