Li Zhanshu (C, rear), the newly-elected chairman of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over the first meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING -- China's newly-elected top legislator Li Zhanshu Wednesday stressed upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the legislature's work.

Li, chairman of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at the first meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee.

Noting that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era plays a scientific guiding role and upholding the CPC leadership is a major political principle, Li stressed adherence to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics and the unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance in improving the legislature's work.

He also called on the NPC and its standing committee to be completely clear about their functions and responsibilities.

He underscored the importance of firmly grasping the important political principle of the leadership of the Party, and the accurate positioning of NPC as the organ of state power.

He said that the people running the country is an essential and core feature of socialist democracy, which requires the legislature to maintain close ties with the people.

He urged to firmly grasp rule of law, a basic strategy that the Party adopts to lead the people to govern the country.

He also stressed law-based governance and the system of democratic centralism.

Moreover, Li asked the NPC and its standing committee to study and promote the Constitution and build the awareness of the spirit of the Constitution among ordinary people.

The meeting voted and approved the appointments of the deputy secretary-generals of the NPC Standing Committee as well as the deputy directors and members of the national supervisory commission.

It also voted and approved the appointments and removals of officials in charge of the NPC Standing Committee's Budgetary Affairs Commission, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee and Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee.

State Councilor Wang Yong, National Supervisory Commission Director Yang Xiaodu as well as Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, and Zhang Jun, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, were also present at the meeting.

With Li presiding, a ceremony was held after the meeting at which the newly-appointed deputy secretary-generals of the NPC Standing Committee and heads of the NPC Standing Committee's Budgetary Affairs Commission, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee and Macao Special Administrative Region Basic Law Committee took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

Li Zhanshu, the newly-elected chairman of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over the first meeting of the chairman and vice-chairpersons of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Li Zhanshu (1st R), the newly-elected chairman of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over an oath-taking ceremony to pledge allegiance to the Constitution, held by the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)