Zhang Dejiang (C back), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the closing meeting of the 22nd session of the 12th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2016.(Xinhua/Fan Rujun)
BEIJING -- China's legislature closed its bi-monthly session on Saturday, ratifying the Paris Agreement on climate change and adopting a law on national defense transport.
Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting of the six-day session.
"Ratifying the agreement shows China's sense of responsibility and commitment to dealing with climate change," said Zhang in his speech to the meeting.
The new law on national defense transport regulates the planning, construction, management and use of resources in transportation sectors for national defense.
The lawmakers also approved the piloting of plea bargaining in criminal cases, as part of efforts to find balance in criminal justice decisions.
Four laws regulating inbound investment were revised, with an easing of rules for foreign and Taiwanese investors looking to start businesses in China's mainland.
The legislature passed a bill to ratify an amendment to a tariff concession schedule of the country's World Trade Organization accession protocol, promising to eliminate customs duties on 201 information technology products.
Also on Saturday, members of the NPC Standing Committee voted to appoint Li Xiaopeng, former Shanxi governor, minister of transport.
Li and other three new deputy directors of NPC special committees pledged allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony after the meeting.