Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first plenary meeting of the ninth session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2024. [Xinhua/Li Tao]

BEIJING -- The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, started its ninth session Tuesday in Beijing.

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

Lawmakers reviewed a draft academic degree law, a draft tariff law, a draft revision to the Law on National Defense Education, a draft amendment to the Accounting Law, and a draft amendment to the Statistics Law.

They reviewed a draft energy law, a draft atomic energy law, a draft revision to the Anti-Money Laundering Law, and a package of draft amendments to three laws including the Law on the Popularization of Agricultural Technology.

The session deliberated a draft decision on authorizing the State Council to temporarily adjust the application of related provisions of the Food Safety Law in the Hainan Free Trade Port, four treaties with other countries relating to judicial assistance in criminal affairs and extradition, three reports on environmental protection, State-owned assets and deputy qualification, as well as personnel-related bills.