BEIJING -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, started its 34th session Monday in Beijing.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session's first plenary meeting.

Lawmakers reviewed a draft law on futures and derivatives and a draft revision to the Vocational Education Law, both submitted by the NPC Constitution and Law Committee for a third reading.

In its reports to the session, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee said the two drafts are already relatively mature, and suggested the session adopt them.

The session deliberated a draft revision to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports, a draft law on black soil conservation, a draft revision to the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women, and three bills on the electoral rules for the 14th NPC.

Lawmakers considered the ratification of a revised agreement on regional anti-terrorist structure between the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the ratification of the International Labour Organization's Forced Labour Convention, 1930, and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957.

They also reviewed reports on environmental protection and deputy qualifications, as well as personnel-related bills.