China's legislative bodies have accelerated reforms to strengthen governance and address emerging challenges, with 36 new laws enacted since 2021 alongside sweeping revisions to existing statutes. Shen Chunyao, director of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, revealed the progress at a Friday press conference, highlighting efforts to align legal frameworks with the 14th Five-Year Plan's priorities.
The NPC and its standing committee revised 63 laws, issued 35 decisions on critical matters, and expanded China's legal code to 306 active laws supported by over 14,000 local regulations. Shen emphasized four key legislative pillars: driving high-quality economic growth, improving social welfare systems, safeguarding environmental resources, and creating stable conditions for development.
Notable new legislation includes the Private Economy Promotion Law to stimulate entrepreneurship, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law addressing geopolitical pressures, and the Yellow River Protection Law targeting ecological conservation. The Personal Information Protection Law also establishes China's framework for digital privacy rights.
Judicial authorities reported parallel progress, with Supreme People's Court Vice President He Xiaorong announcing 5.23 million criminal case resolutions since 2021. Courts prioritized combating organized crime, telecom fraud, and cyberbullying while handling 2.34 million intellectual property disputes to protect innovation.
This legal overhaul comes as China seeks to balance economic modernization with social stability, offering businesses clearer operational guidelines while reinforcing citizens' rights through structured rule-of-law mechanisms.
