The Standing Committee of China's top legislature will consider a written report on establishing a formal exchange mechanism between China's top legislature and the Senate of the United States in a four-day meeting in Beijing beginning Feb. 26.  

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the US Senate signed a memorandum of understanding in early January to formally establish a formal exchange mechanism. As part of the mechanism, the NPC and the US Senate will set up an inter-parliamentary group.

A meeting of the NPC Standing Committee chairman and vice chairmen held here Tuesday also decided on other items of the agenda for the scheduled meeting, which included:

l         hearing a State Council report on the control of the highly pathogenic bird flu;

l         further considering draft amendments to the foreign trade law and the draft law for promoting agricultural mechanization, discussing and possibly approving a treaty between China and the Republic of Korea on judicial assistance in civil and commercial actions;

l         deliberating the draft agenda, the draft name list of the presidium and secretary-general for the annual NPC session in March, the work report of the NPC Standing Committee, the draft name list of people to attend the session as non-voting deputies, and an examination report on the qualifications of deputies to the session;

l         discussing written reports on hosting the 12th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum and the attendance of NPC delegation to the annual session; and considering appointments to and removals from official posts.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2004)