Translation: Five-Year Legislative Plan of China’s National People’s Congress for 2023–2028

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, China’s national legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC), released the five-year legislative plan for its current term ending in 2028. Since 1993, each NPCSC has adopted such a plan to outline and prioritize the legislative tasks during its five-year term. Those plans are important documents that require the approval of the Communist Party’s central leadership.

Like its previous iterations, the 14th NPCSC’s plan places legislative projects in three groups, Category I to III, in descending priority (or ripeness). With 79 projects in Category I and 51 in Category II, for a total of 130, the plan is the second most ambitious one yet in the NPC’s history (just behind the 8th NPCSC’s plan, which included 152 projects). In addition, Category III of the latest plan includes about a dozen broad areas for potential legislation, but indicates further research is still needed to evaluate exactly what projects are necessary and feasible. Unlike its previous iterations, the 14th NPCSC’s plan for the first time lists two general legislative tasks at the end of Category I: the first to advance the compilation of additional legal codes, and the other to initiate efforts to “clean up” [清理] national laws (i.e., a comprehensive review of existing legislation to identify outdated provisions and conflicts among laws and to then address those issues).

It is important to note that the NPCSC’s five-year legislative plans are not binding, but are merely guidelines. As one official explained, when necessary, the NPCSC may and do “dynamically adjust” its legislative agenda through annual and special legislative plans in the course of a five-year term. Indeed, the latest plan (at the end of Category I) explicitly leaves room for the NPCSC’s consideration of unlisted projects to implement the Party’s priorities.

Finally, a note on translation. The new plan uses the term “修改” to mark a law scheduled for update. We generally translate that word as “modification” (and abbreviated as “Mod.”) because it is a broader term that encompasses both “修正” (amendment) and “修订” (revision)—which, as we have explained in our FAQ, are the two distinct forms of statutory changes in China. But when the specific method of modification is known (for instance, because the relevant government agency has released a draft for public comment), we will correspondingly translate “修改” as either “Amdt.” (short for “amendment”) or “Rev.” (short for “revision”).

The 14th NPC Standing Committee’s five-year legislative plan is translated in full below. Additional analysis of the plan is in the works. In the coming days, we will update our Legislation page in accordance with the plan and create an annotated and sortable version of the plan on Wikisource. We will not keep this post updated, so please bookmark those two links instead.


十四届全国人大常委会立法规划
14th NPC Standing Committee Legislative Plan

(共130件)
(130 projects)

第一类项目:条件比较成熟、任期内拟提请审议的法律草案(79件)
Category I projects: Draft laws for which the conditions are relatively ripe and which are planned to be submitted for deliberation during the term (79 projects)

#法律名称
Title of Law
提请审议机关或牵头起草单位
Organ Submitting for Review or Lead Drafting Unit
1国家发展规划法
Law on National Development Plans
国务院
State Council
2国有资产法
State-Owned Assets Law
(企业国有资产法修改,一并考虑)
(Modification of Law on the State-Owned Assets of Enterprises to be considered together)
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
全国人大常委会预算工委
NPCSC Budgetary Affairs Commission
3不动产登记法
Real Property Registration Law
国务院
State Council
4金融稳定法
Financial Stability Law
国务院 (已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
5农村集体经济组织法
Rural Collective Economic Organizations Law
全国人大农业农村委(已提请审议)
NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (submitted for review)
6耕地保护法
Farmland Protection Law
国务院
State Council
7对外关系法
Foreign Relations Law
委员长会议(2023年6月已审议通过)
Council of Chairpersons (adopted in June 2023)
8外国国家豁免法
Foreign State Immunity Law
国务院(2023年9月已审议通过)
State Council (adopted in September 2023)
9增值税法
Value-Added Tax Law
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
10消费税法
Consumption Tax Law
国务院
State Council
11关税法
Tariff Law
国务院
State Council
12民事强制执行法
Civil Compulsory Enforcement Law
最高人民法院(已提请审议)
Supreme People’s Court (submitted for review)
13检察公益诉讼法
Procuratorial Public Interest Litigation Law
(公益诉讼法,一并考虑)
(A Public Interest Litigation Law to be considered together)
全国人大监察司法委
NPC Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee
14反跨境腐败法
Law on Countering Transnational Corruption
国家监委
State Supervision Commission
15学前教育法
Preschool Education Law
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
16学位法
Academic Degrees Law
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
17爱国主义教育法
Patriotic Education Law
委员长会议(已提请审议)
Council of Chairpersons (submitted for review)
18法治宣传教育法
Law on Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law
全国人大监察司法委
NPC Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee
19志愿服务法
Volunteer Service Law
全国人大社会委
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee
20社会救助法
Social Assistance Law
国务院
State Council
21药师法
Pharmacists Law
国务院
State Council
22突发公共卫生事件应对法
Public Health Emergency Response Law
国务院
State Council
23无障碍环境建设法
Barrier-Free Environments Development Law
全国人大社会委(2023年6月已审议通过)
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee (adopted in June 2023)
24青藏高原生态保护法
Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Ecological Conservation Law
全国人大环资委(2023年4月已审议通过)
NPC Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation Committee (adopted in April 2023)
25国土空间规划法
Territorial Spatial Planning Law
国务院
State Council
26国家公园法
National Parks Law
(自然保护地法,一并考虑)
(A Natural Protected Areas Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
27能源法
Energy Law
国务院
State Council
28原子能法
Atomic Energy Law
国务院
State Council
29粮食安全保障法
Law on Ensuring Food Security
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
30突发事件应对管理法
Emergency Response and Management Law
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
31国家消防救援人员法
National Fire and Rescue Personnel Law
国务院
State Council
32危险化学品安全法
Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law
国务院
State Council
33公司法(修改)
Company Law (Rev.)
委员长会议(已提请审议)
Council of Chairpersons (submitted for review)
34企业破产法(修改)
Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Rev.)
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
35反不正当竞争法(修改)
Anti–Unfair Competition Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
36会计法(修改)
Accounting Law (Rev.)
(注册会计师法修改,一并考虑)
(Revision to Certified Public Accountants Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
37中国人民银行法(修改)
Law on the People’s Bank of China (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
38商业银行法(修改)
Commercial Banks Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
39保险法(修改)
Insurance Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
40反洗钱法(修改)
Anti–Money Laundering Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
41铁路法(修改)
Railway Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
42矿产资源法(修改)
Mineral Resources Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
43产品质量法(修改)
Product Quality Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
44计量法(修改)
Metrology Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
45农业法(修改)
Agriculture Law (Mod.)
全国人大农业农村委
NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
46对外贸易法(修改)
Foreign Trade Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
47海商法(修改)
Maritime Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
48海关法(修改)
Customs Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
49税收征收管理法(修改)
Tax Collection Administration Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
50立法法(修改)
Legislation Law (Amdt.)
委员长会议(2023年3月已审议通过)
Council of Chairpersons (adopted in March 2023)
51各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法(修改)
Law on the Oversight by the Standing Committees of People’s Congresses at All Levels (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
52全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会代表法(修改)
Law on the Delegates to the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses at All Levels (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
53城市居民委员会组织法(修改)
Urban Residents’ Committees Organic Law (Rev.)
全国人大社会委
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee
54村民委员会组织法(修改)
Villagers’ Committees Organic Law (Rev.)
全国人大社会委
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee
55国务院组织法(修改)
State Council Organic Law (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
56行政复议法(修改)
Administrative Reconsideration Law (Rev.)
国务院(2023年9月已审议通过)
State Council (adopted in September 2023)
57国家赔偿法(修改)
State Compensation Law (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
58律师法(修改)
Lawyers Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
59仲裁法(修改)
Arbitration Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
60监狱法(修改)
Prisons Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
61民事诉讼法(修改)
Civil Procedure Law (Amdt.)
最高人民法院(2023年9月已审议通过)
Supreme People’s Court (adopted in September 2023)
62刑事诉讼法(修改)
Criminal Procedure Law (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
63教师法(修改)
Teachers Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
64科学技术普及法(修改)
Science and Technology Popularization Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
65文物保护法(修改)
Cultural Relics Protection Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
66国家通用语言文字法(修改)
Law on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language (Mod.)
全国人大教科文卫委
NPC Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee
67慈善法(修改)
Charity Law (Rev.)
全国人大社会委(已提请审议)
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee (submitted for review)
68传染病防治法(修改)
Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Rev.)
(国境卫生检疫法修改,一并考虑)
(Revision to Frontier Health and Quarantine Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
69道路交通安全法(修改)
Road Traffic Safety Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
70海洋环境保护法(修改)
Marine Environmental Protection Law (Rev.)
全国人大环资委(已提请审议)
NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee (submitted for review)
71进出境动植物检疫法(修改)
Exit-Entry Animals and Plants Quarantine Law (Amdt.)
国务院
State Council
72可再生能源法(修改)
Renewable Energy Law (Mod.)
全国人大环资委
NPC Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee
73反间谍法(修改)
Counterespionage Law (Rev.)
全国人大监察司法委(2023年4月已审议通过)
NPC Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Committee (adopted in April 2023)
74保守国家秘密法(修改)
Law on Guarding State Secrets (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
75现役军官法(修改)
Officers in Active Service Law (Mod.)
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
76国防教育法(修改)
National Defense Education Law (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
77刑法修正案
Criminal Law Amendment
委员长会议(已提请审议)
Council of Chairpersons (submitted for review)
78治安管理处罚法(修改)
Public Security Administration Punishments Law (Rev.)
国务院(已提请审议)
State Council (submitted for review)
79网络安全法(修改)
Cybersecurity Law (Mod.)
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons

积极研究推进环境(生态环境)法典和其他条件成熟领域的法典编纂工作。适时启动法律清理工作。

Actively study and promote the compilation of an environmental (ecological and environmental) code and other codes in areas for which the conditions are ripe. Launch efforts to clean up laws at the appropriate time.

贯彻落实党中央决策部署,对推进全面深化改革,实施区域协调发展战略和区域重大战略,国防和军队建设,维护国家安全,推进科技创新和人工智能健康发展,完善涉外法律体系等,要求制定、修改、废止、解释相关法律,或者需要由全国人大及其常委会作出相关决定的,适时安排审议。

To implement the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, where it is necessary to formulate, modify, repeal, or interpret the relevant laws or necessary for the NPC and its Standing Committee to make the relevant decisions, so as to advance the comprehensive deepening of reforms, implement the strategy of coordinated regional development and major regional strategies, develop national defense and the military, safeguard national security, advance scientific and technological innovation and the healthy development of artificial intelligence, and improve the system of foreign-related laws, etc., they are to be scheduled for deliberation at the appropriate time.

第二类项目:需要抓紧工作、条件成熟时提请审议的法律草案(51件)
Category II projects: Draft laws that should be worked on without delay and are to be submitted for deliberation when the conditions become ripe (51 projects)

#法律名称
Title of Law
提请审议机关或牵头起草单位
Organ Submitting for Review or Lead Drafting Unit
1电信法
Telecommunications Law
(无线电频谱资源法,一并考虑)
(A Radio Spectrum Resources Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
2交通运输法
Transportation Law
国务院
State Council
3航天法
Space Law
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
4航空法
Aviation Law
(民用航空法修改,一并考虑)
(Revision to Civil Aviation Law to be considered together)
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
5行业协会商会法
Law on Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
国务院
State Council
6民族团结进步促进法
Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress
全国人大民委
NPC Ethnic Affairs Committee
7华侨权益保护法
Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese
全国人大华侨委
NPC Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee
8机关事务管理法
Government Offices Administration Law
国务院
State Council
9看守所法
Detention Centers Law
国务院
State Council
10司法鉴定法
Judicial Authentication Law
国务院
State Council
11数字经济促进法
Digital Economy Promotion Law
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
12社会信用建设法
Social Credit Development Law
国务院
State Council
13见义勇为人员奖励和保障法
Law on Rewarding and Protecting Good Samaritans
全国人大社会委
NPC Social Development Affairs Committee
14文化产业促进法
Cultural Industry Promotion Law
国务院
State Council
15历史文化遗产保护法
Historical Cultural Heritage Protection Law
(非物质文化遗产法修改,一并考虑)
(Modification of Intangible Cultural Heritage Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
16广播电视法
Radio and Television Law
国务院
State Council
17产业工人队伍建设法
Law on Strengthening Industrial Workforce
全国总工会
All-China Federation of Trade Unions
18医疗保障法
Healthcare Security Law
国务院
State Council
19医疗器械管理法
Medical Devices Administration Law
国务院
State Council
20托育服务法
Childcare Service Law
全国人大教科文卫委
NPC Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee
21养老服务法
Eldercare Service Law
国务院
State Council
22户籍法
Household Registration Law
国务院
State Council
23电磁辐射污染防治法
Law on the Prevention and Control of Electromagnetic Radiation Pollution
国务院
State Council
24海洋法
Law of the Sea
委员长会议
Council of Chairpersons
25国家储备安全法
National Reserves Security Law
国务院
State Council
26民兵法
Militia Law
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
27自然灾害防治法
Natural Disasters Prevention and Control Law
(防震减灾法修改,一并考虑)
(Modification of Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
28网络犯罪防治法
Cybercrime Prevention and Control Law
国务院
State Council
29招标投标法(修改)
Bid Invitation and Bidding Law (Rev.)
(政府采购法修改,一并考虑)
(Revision to Government Procurement Law to be considered together)
国务院
State Council
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
30预算法(修改)
Budget Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
31价格法(修改)
Pricing Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
32商标法(修改)
Trademarks Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
33统计法(修改)
Statistics Law (Amdt.)
国务院
State Council
34银行业监督管理法(修改)
Banking Supervision and Administration Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
35电力法(修改)
Electricity Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
36渔业法(修改)
Fisheries Law (Rev.)
国务院
State Council
37公证法(修改)
Notarization Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
38海事诉讼特别程序法(修改)
Special Maritime Procedure Law (Mod.)
最高人民法院
Supreme People’s Court
39社会保险法(修改)
Social Insurance Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
40气象法(修改)
Meteorology Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
41旅游法(修改)
Tourism Law (Mod.)
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
42水法(修改)
Water Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
43节约能源法(修改)
Energy Conservation Law (Mod.)
全国人大财经委
NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
44人民防空法(修改)
Civil Air Defense Law (Mod.)
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
45国防动员法(修改)
National Defense Mobilization Law (Mod.)
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
46国防交通法(修改)
National Defense Transportation Law (Mod.)
国务院、中央军委
State Council & Central Military Commission
47防洪法(修改)
Flood Control Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
48出境入境管理法(修改)
Exit-Entry Administration Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
49枪支管理法(修改)
Firearms Control Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
50禁毒法(修改)
Narcotics Control Law (Mod.)
国务院
State Council
51人民警察法(修改)
People’s Police Law (Rev.)
(人民警察警衔条例修改,一并考虑)
(Modification of Regulations on the Police Ranks of the People’s Police to be considered together)
国务院
State Council

第三类项目:立法条件尚不完全具备、需要继续研究论证的立法项目
Category III Projects: Legislative projects without complete legislative conditions and for which continuing research and debate are needed

规范非税收入、政府债务、转移支付等财政税收制度,重要江河流域保护,应对气候变化和碳达峰碳中和,促进人口高质量发展,基本劳动标准和新就业形态,信访、矛盾纠纷多元化解,数据权属和网络治理等方面的立法项目,以及其他需要研究论证的修改法律的项目,经研究论证,条件成熟时,可以安排审议。

Projects to formulate laws on regulating fiscal and taxation systems such as non-tax revenue, government debt, and transfer payments; on conserving important river basins; on addressing climate change as well as achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality; on promoting high-quality population development; on basic labor standards and new forms of employment; on public complaints and diversified resolution of disputes; on data ownership and internet governance; and on such other areas, as well as other projects to modify laws that require research and debate, may be scheduled for deliberation when the conditions become ripe after research and debate.

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