Lawmakers to discuss draft Constitutional amendments
( 2003-12-16 16:25) (Xinhua)
Chinese lawmakers will start discussing amendments to the Constitution next
Monday as proposed by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
(CPC).
According to an agenda made Tuesday, the upcoming week-long session of the
National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee will review proposals made
by the CPC Central Committee on the amendments to the Constitution and
deliberate draft amendments formulated based on the proposals.
The agenda was passed at a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee chairman and
vice-chairpersons.
The existing Chinese Constitution, consisting of 138 articles in four
chapters, was formulated in 1982 and was later amended three times, in 1988,
1993 and 1999 respectively.
The 1988 revisions said that the state permits the private economy to exist
and grow within the limits prescribed by law.
The amendments in 1993 added to the Constitution the theory of building
socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhering to reform, opening up and
multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the CPC and the political
consultation system.
And the latest revisions in 1999 enshrined the guiding role of Deng Xiaoping
Theory. The rule of law has been stipulated as a national policy and the role of
the private sector was further highlighted.
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