BEIJING — China is drafting a fundamental Civil Code, with the draft’s general rules expected to be submitted to the top legislature in June, a spokesperson for the annual session of the legislature said on March 4.

At a press conference a day ahead of the opening of the National People’s Congress annual session, spokeswoman Fu Ying said the Civil Code is a fundamental law for managing civil affairs. Its core is the protection of private rights.

From 1954 to 2002, lawmakers made four attempts to draft the code, but all failed due to “immature conditions,” she said, adding that China has made remarkable progress in the legislation of civil laws. Major laws, including the Property Law and the Contract Law, have been enacted.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October 2014 demanded the compilation of the Civil Code, and legislation work began later.

There are two steps in compiling the Civil Code. The first step is to stipulate the code’s general rules, and the second is to comprehensively integrate civil laws, she added.

The draft general rules of the Civil Code have been worked out and the top legislature is soliciting opinions on it, said Fu.