CCTV9英语新闻：Top legislator Zhang Dejiang delivers work report

To get the latest from today's agenda, let me bring in Han Peng. He's been covering the meetings over the past week. Good evening, Han Peng.

 

Q1. Meanwhile, many delegations from different provinces in China have also held press conferences. What are the highlights?

 

"To tackle the frequent smog and air pollution, we've revised the law on Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution. There are now 129 clauses compared to the original 66," 

 

"The law is now more precise, targeted and practical. We've revised the Food Safety Law to build a strict supervision and accountability system, which can cover the whole circulation process,"

 

"We've stipulated the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, and created mechanisms to prevent and deal with domestic violence. And we've revised the Population and Family Planning Law. The two-child policy entered with effect from January the 1st, 2016," said Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of NPC Standing Committee.

 

The two top Communist Party officials in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have answered questions from the press at the 'Two Sessions'. They said security in the region improved last year and passport restrictions had been lifted. 

 

Xinjiang was rocked by terrorist attacks in 2013 and 14, but there have been few reports of violence in the last year.

 

That did not stop reporters from raising questions about the region's security when the Xinjiang delegation met the press at the National People's Congress. Xinjiang's Party Chief Zhang Chunxian had a positive message. 

 

"The region is becoming more capable of preventing and handling terrorist threats, despite the increasingly complicated international situation," said Zhang Chunxian. 

 

This time last year, Zhang confirmed for the first time that the influence of Islamic State had reached Xinjiang. Officials say there were also cases of residents joining overseas terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

In response to the threat of terrorism, Xinjiang imposed passport restrictions in 2006, making it more difficult for the region's residents to apply for a passport and go abroad. Xinjiang's deputy Party Chief announced on Tuesday that all those restrictions have now been lifted and applicants are being treated equally under the law. 

 

"Now we are confident about the improved regional security, and committed to opening up the region and making things convenient for the people," said Xinjiang Deputy Party Chief Che Jun. 

 

Officials warn that despite the improved security, overseas terrorists have not stopped their attempts to infiltrate Xinjiang and propagate extremist ideologies.