Legislative projects related to tasks in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) and in this year’s government work report are being given the highest priority in the legislative work of 2016, according to a recent circular issued by the State Council.

The circular put forward specific suggestions on fulfilling this year’s legislative work. It stressed promoting development featuring innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing.

The circular said that efforts should be made to speed up the introduction of innovation-friendly regulations concerning market environment, property rights system, investment and financing system and talent introduction and training, and improve rules on protection of intellectual property rights.

Meanwhile, coordinated development between urban and rural areas, between the economy and society, and between industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agriculture modernization should also be enhanced.

In addition, the circular said the introduction of regulations and rules should be favorable to energy conservation and efficient use of energy, to promote low-carbon development and strengthen environmental management and ecological protection.

Moreover, laws and regulations concerning foreign affairs should also be improved to create a transparent, fair and just business environment.

The legitimate rights and interests of the public in all fields should also be safeguarded, the circular said.

In addition, the introduction of legislation should also be conducive to deepening reform and streamlining administration, the circular emphasized.

Misconduct in legislative work, such as power abuse and responsibility evasion, should be avoided to prevent the legislation work from becoming a tool to seek improper interests and benefits.

All legislative work concerning the reform plans clearly specified by the Party and the State Council should be completed through various methods as soon as possible to elevate a successful outcome.

Focusing on public concerns, the number of administrative approval items should be further reduced to enhance administration streamlining and power delegation and release market vitality and social creativity. Supervision and management measures should be mapped out for canceled and delegated administrative approval items. The adoption of new administrative approval items should be strictly controlled and those that really need new administrative permission should be examined from the aspects of legitimacy, rationality and necessity.

Any rules and regulations going against stable economic growth, reform initiatives, structural adjustment, people’s livelihood, risk control and entrepreneurship and innovation, should be modified or abolished, the circular stressed.