China started training newly elected local legislators, as the election of the country's county and township people's congresses is underway.

More than 170 newly elected standing committee members of local people's congresses from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and northwest Qinghai Province became the first group of trainees since the election started from last July.

During the nine-day training starting last Wednesday, the legislators will focus on a number of key laws including Constitution, the laws of supervision and election and budget management under public finance.

Sheng Huaren, vice chairman and secretary-general of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, urged the local legislators to keep improving themselves to better fulfill their responsibility.

The election of county and township people's congresses will end on December 31, 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2006)