Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first plenary meeting of the 10th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, April 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING -- The top legislature started its bimonthly session Saturday to review multiple draft laws and revisions to laws.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), presided over the first plenary meeting of the session Saturday morning. A total of 171 members of the NPC Standing Committee attended the meeting.

Among the bills presented to the legislautre, the draft revisions to the Judges Law and the Procurators Law were for their third readings.

The Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC suggested the drafts be submitted to a vote for adoption at the session.

A draft amendment to the Securities Law was submitted for a third reading.

The latest revisions to the law include rules on the newly-devised science and technology innovation board, which will pilot a registration-based initial public offering (IPO) system.

Also on the lawmakers' table are the draft sections of property and personality rights of the civil code.

It is the second reading of these two sections. By the end of 2019, the various sections -- after going through legislative review -- will be compiled with the General Provisions of the Civil Law into a civil code.

Lawmakers on Saturday also began reviewing the second drafts of two pharmaceutical-related bills -- the draft revisions to the Drug Administration Law and the draft vaccine administration law.

The new drafts regulate online selling of drugs, increase penalties for illegal activities, encourage vaccine research and innovation, and set up a compensation system for vaccine adverse events, among others.

Justice Minister Fu Zhenghua briefed lawmakers on a package of revisions to eight laws submitted to the legislature for review. The legislative move -- including an amendment to the Construction Law -- is aimed at creating a rule-of-law, international and convenient business environment, and facilitating the enforcement of the Foreign Investment Law.

Lawmakers also heard a report on ratifying a treaty between China and Barbados on criminal judicial assistance, and another one between China and Azerbaijan on the transfer of sentenced persons.

Other personnel issues were heard or reviewed at Saturday's meeting.