China will elect deputies to its top legislature next year based on the same population ratio in rural and urban areas, according to a draft decision on lawmaker election tabled for deliberation on Thursday.

For the first time, the quota of 2,000 deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) will be given to urban and rural residents based on the same population ratio, as stipulated in the amended Electoral Law.

"NPC deputies are the component members of the highest organ of state power who represent the interests and will of the people and participate, pursuant to the law, in the exercise of state power," said Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, while explaining the draft decision to a plenary meeting of the NPC annual session.

The election of deputies to the 12th NPC should be completed in January 2013, two months prior to the five-year term of the 11th NPC ending in March 2013, said the draft decision.

"The greatest feature of the election lies in the adoption of election of deputies to the people's congresses based on the same population ratio in urban and rural areas," Li said.

Success in the election will be of extreme importance to developing socialist democratic politics, enhancing the building of state power and ensuring that the people are the masters of the country, Li said.

"It will also help assimilate the wisdom and strength of all sectors, promote development by a scientific approach and enhance social harmony," he added.

The draft decision follows major principles set forth in the amended Electoral Law, in a bid to better embody equality among all citizens, regions and ethnic groups.

The quota of deputies to be distributed according to the size of population "shall follow that one deputy represents about 670,000 people in rural or urban areas," Li said.

An equal base number shall be allocated to each of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities regardless of its size of population. Therefore, the draft decision stipulates that the equal base number for each provincial region shall be eight, making a total of 248.

Some deputy seats will be reserved by the NPC Standing Committee to ensure that each ethnic group, no matter how small its population is, can have at least one seat at the NPC, according to the draft decision.

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