BEIJING -- Lawmakers Friday held panel discussions to deliberate the draft law on Yangtze River conservation during an ongoing legislative session of the country's top legislature.

The draft was submitted Monday to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for the first reading.

At Friday's discussions, lawmakers acknowledged the necessity of national legislation to protect the Yangtze River and proposed more measures of protection to improve the draft.

Lawmaker Liu Xiuwen stressed the importance of flood-prevention work to the protection and development of the Yangtze River basin and suggested related stipulations be included in the draft.

While acknowledging the draft's focus on government responsibilities, lawmaker Liu Yuting stressed the need to include "social participation" stipulations in the draft.

The draft should add more stipulations to help transform people's lifestyles and behaviors to better protect the river, Liu Yuting said.

A national award should be set up for local governments, institutions and individuals who make outstanding contributions to Yangtze protection, said lawmaker Wu Heng.

Wan Exiang, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, proposed including education authorities' responsibilities in the draft so that the education on Yangtze River protection could start from Chinese people's childhood.

Lawmaker Pang Lijuan also suggested including Yangtze protection in school curriculums.

"Children should learn the beauty of the Yangtze and its significance to China in Chinese and geography classes. They should also learn the dire consequences of pollution in science classes and other extracurricular activities," she said.