Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, presides over a meeting with chiefs of the standing committees of provincial-level people's congresses in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING -- Top legislator on Tuesday called for closer connections between the National People's Congress (NPC) and NPC deputies as well as local legislatures, to improve the quality of work of the people's congresses in the new era.

Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, made the remarks at a meeting with chiefs of the standing committees of provincial-level people's congresses.

To let the deputies to people's congresses better play their roles is an important manifestation of the adherence to and improvement of the running of the country by the people and a significant foundation of the vitality within the work of people's congresses, Li noted.

He thus asked people's congresses across the country to respect the principal status of the deputies, raise the awareness of service for the deputies and ensure the deputies fulfill their duties in accordance with the law.

The NPC and its standing committee's relationship with local people's congresses and their standing committees is not one of superior and subordinate, which is an important political principle, Li continued.

To strengthen the connection between the national and local legislatures, the most important thing lies in improving the interaction and synergy between them in ideological and political construction and major tasks, according to Li.

He also encouraged further communication, coordination, exchanges and other forms of cooperation between the NPC and local people's congresses in their work, to jointly push forward the general work of the people's congresses.

Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, presides over a meeting with chiefs of the standing committees of provincial-level people's congresses in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)