Head of China's legislature vows to ‘push forward’ anti-graft laws

China’s national legislature head Zhang Dejiang says supporting the anti-corruption campaign is a major task for the National People’s Congress in the coming year.

In his annual work report at the weekend, the NPC chairman vowed to “push forward” anti-graft legislation put on the agenda two years ago.

“All agencies under the National People’s Congress should support the work of task forces sent by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and volunteer to be supervised,” said Zhang.

He also vowed to pass a national security law by the end of the year. A draft of the law had been deliberated by the NPC last year, along with other draft laws concerning state security, including anti-terrorism and management of overseas non-government organisations, he said.

The NPC said during its 2013 national session that improving anti-corruption legislation and forming “a system to publish and prevent corruption” were legislative priorities for the next five years.

The mainland’s criminal law, in its current form, has some provisions for embezzlement, taking bribes and dereliction of duty, but many other cases of corruption, such as abuse of power and the sale of offices and titles, are either not covered or have no punishment guidelines.