The brilliant Susan Finder has recently reminded those interested of the release by the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee of draft Amendments to China's Arbitration Law (仲裁法（修订）). She writes:
As followers of Chinese dispute resolution matters might know, the Arbitration Law draft amendments have been released by the NPC Standing Committee https://npcobserver.com/china-npc-draft-law/, the draft open for comment until December 8. I haven't seen a translation of the draft posted, unfortunately. Hu Ke, a partner of Jingtian & Gongcheng posted this article on LinkedIn, which summarizes the draft without any comments https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-new-ongoing-chinese-arbitration-law-reform-hu-ke-q4nvc/.
The Text of the Revision may be accessed HERE; the explanatory materials (NPC Observer) may be accessed here (with thanks for the links to the NPC Observer Website folks). The Explanation follows below in the original Chinese and in a crude English translations.
关于《中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会
代表法（修正草案）》的说明
一、修改代表法的必要性和重大意义
人民代表大会制度是我国的根本政治制度。我国宪法规定：“中华人民
共和国的一切权力属于人民。人民行使国家权力的机关是全国人民代表大会
和地方各级人民代表大会。”人大代表是国家权力机关的组成人员，代表人
民的利益和意志，依照宪法和法律的规定，参加行使国家权力。党的十八大
以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视人大代表工作，从发展全过程
人民民主、保障人民当家作主的高度，对充分发挥人大代表作用、加强人大
代表工作能力建设作出决策部署，推动人大代表工作取得新进展、新成就。
2021 年 10 月，中央人大工作会议明确提出充分发挥人大代表作用等任务要
求。2022年10 月，党的二十大报告提出加强人大代表工作能力建设，密切人
大代表同人民群众的联系。2024 年 7 月，党的二十届三中全会决定提出丰富
人大代表联系人民群众的内容和形式，健全吸纳民意、汇集民智工作机制。
2024 年9 月，习近平总书记在庆祝全国人民代表大会成立70 周年大会上发表
重要讲话，对人大代表当好党和国家联系人民群众的桥梁，各国家机关支持
和保障人大代表依法履职，健全联系代表的制度机制等提出明确要求。
代表法是规范和保障人大代表依法行使代表职权、履行代表义务、发挥
代表作用的基本法律。现行代表法是1992 年七届全国人大五次会议通过和公
布施行的，2009 年、2010 年、2015 年分别作了部分修改。这部法律的颁布施
行，对规范和保证代表依法履行职责，充分发挥代表作用，保证人民当家作
主，发挥了重要作用。全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深入
贯彻习近平总书记关于坚持和完善人民代表大会制度的重要思想，贯彻落实
党中央重大决策部署，有必要认真总结新时代人大代表工作的实践经验，与
时俱进修改完善代表法，进一步健全代表履职的制度机制，密切国家机关特
别是各级人大常委会同代表的联系，密切代表同人民群众的联系，强化代表
履职的保障和监督，用制度体系保障人民当家作主，坚持好、完善好、运行
好人民代表大会制度，更好把制度优势转化为治理效能，为全面建成社会主
义现代化强国提供制度保障。
（一）修改代表法是坚持党的全面领导、坚定不移走中国特色社会主义
政治发展道路的必然要求
人民代表大会制度是坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机统一
的根本政治制度安排，是党领导国家政权机关的重要制度载体。各级人大及
其常委会是中国共产党领导的政治机关，党的全面领导是人大工作的最高政
治原则。人大代表作为各级人民代表大会的组成人员，肩负党和人民的重托，
依法参加行使管理国家事务的权力，必须旗帜鲜明讲政治，提高政治站位，
站稳政治立场，履行政治责任。2021 年《中共中央关于新时代坚持和完善人
民代表大会制度、加强和改进人大工作的意见》明确提出，各级人大代表要
站稳政治立场，依法履职尽责，忠诚为党分忧，忠实为民履职。修改代表法，
明确各级人大代表坚持中国共产党的领导、坚持党和国家的指导思想，站稳
政治立场，履行政治责任，加强思想作风建设，学习贯彻党的理论和路线、
方针、政策，对于保障代表依法履职尽责，保证党的路线方针政策和决策部
署通过人民代表大会制度在国家工作中得到全面贯彻和有效执行，具有重要
意义。
（二）修改代表法是充分发挥代表作用，坚持好、完善好、运行好人民
代表大会制度的客观要求
人大代表是人民代表大会的主体，代表最广大人民的根本利益。人大代
表作用的发挥，直接关系人民代表大会制度的运行，直接关系人大工作质量
和水平。人大代表行使权力的主要形式是出席人民代表大会会议，参与重要
法律法规的制定修改、计划预算的审查批准和重大事项的审议决定，依法参
加选举、表决重要人事任免事项，提出议案、建议，等等。人大代表在闭会
期间开展调研视察，参与人大常委会和专门委员会相关工作，通过多种形式
深入了解群众诉求，通过人大渠道向党和国家机关提出意见建议，也是执行
代表职务的重要方式。人大代表在大会会议期间的工作和闭会期间的活动，
都是执行代表职务。党的十八大以来，各级人大健全常委会联系代表的制度
机制，加强代表对人大常委会立法、监督工作的参与，改进代表调研视察工
作，加强闭会期间代表建议办理工作，有力保障代表作用的充分发挥。修改
代表法，明确各级人大常委会应当密切同代表的联系，各级人民政府、监察
委员会、人民法院、人民检察院应当加强同代表的联系；明确建立健全常委
会组成人员和专门委员会、常委会工作机构联系代表的工作机制，扩大代表
对立法、监督等各项工作的参与；明确代表可以在本行政区域内跨原选举单
位开展视察、专题调研。这对于充分发挥代表作用，坚持好、完善好、运行
好人民代表大会制度，具有重要意义。
（三）修改代表法是发展全过程人民民主，使各级人大及其常委会成为
同人民群众保持密切联系的代表机关的客观要求
全过程人民民主是社会主义民主政治的本质属性，是人民代表大会制度
的内在要求。人民代表大会制度是实现我国全过程人民民主的重要制度载体。
在中央人大工作会议上，习近平总书记强调各级人大及其常委会要成为同人
民群众保持密切联系的代表机关。这是人大及其常委会加强自身建设的目标
任务，也是做好新时代人大工作的重要遵循。我国各级人大代表都由民主选
举产生，具有广泛的代表性。目前，我国 277 万多名五级人大代表中，近 95%
是县乡人大代表，很多是一线工人、农民、专业技术人员。人大代表作为党
和国家联系人民群众的桥梁，发挥来自人民、扎根人民的特点优势，代表人
民依法参加行使国家权力，反映人民的意见和要求，是践行全过程人民民主
的生动体现。党的二十届三中全会对健全全过程人民民主制度体系作出部署，
其中包括“丰富人大代表联系人民群众的内容和形式”。多年来，各级人大
常委会加强代表履职平台建设，丰富人大代表联系人民群众的内容和形式，
密切代表同人民群众的联系。修改代表法，明确代表执行代表职务，应当坚
持以人民为中心，践行全过程人民民主，始终同人民保持密切联系，忠实代
表人民的利益和意志，自觉接受人民监督；规定代表按照就地就近的原则，
根据县级以上的地方各级人大常委会或者乡镇人大主席团的安排开展活动，
密切同人民群众的联系。这对于保证人大代表忠实代表人民的利益和意志，
参加行使国家权力，切实维护人民群众的合法权益，具有重要意义。
（四）修改代表法是加强人民当家作主制度体系建设，为全面推进强国
建设、民族复兴伟业提供制度保障的现实需要
习近平总书记指出，人民代表大会制度是符合我国国情和实际、体现社
会主义国家性质、保证人民当家作主、保障实现中华民族伟大复兴的好制度；
强调要坚持和完善人民当家作主制度体系，不断推进社会主义民主政治制度
化、规范化、程序化，更好把制度优势转化为治理效能。代表制度是人民代
表大会制度的重要组成部分，代表法是关于人民代表大会制度的基本法律。
近年来，按照党中央决策部署，全国人大及其常委会相继对人民代表大会制
度相关法律作出修改完善，将党的十八大以来人民代表大会制度的理论和实
践创新成果转化为法律制度规范，进一步健全人民当家作主制度体系，人民
代表大会制度更加成熟、更加定型。修改代表法，完善代表履职保障和监督
管理制度，夯实人民代表大会制度基础，健全人民当家作主制度体系，有利
于加强和改进代表工作，有利于广泛动员和有效组织全体人民以主人翁姿态
投身改革开放和中国式现代化建设，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、
民族复兴伟业而团结奋斗。
二、修改代表法的指导思想、遵循的原则和工作过程
修改代表法，要坚定不移走中国特色社会主义政治发展道路，全面贯彻
党的二十大和二十届二中、三中全会以及中央人大工作会议精神，坚持以习
近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于
坚持和完善人民代表大会制度的重要思想，坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、
依法治国有机统一，总结新时代人大代表工作的实践经验，丰富人大代表联
系人民群众的内容和形式，健全吸纳民意、汇集民智工作机制，加强代表工
作能力建设和履职监督管理，深化代表对国家机关各方面工作的参与，充分
发挥中国特色社会主义民主政治的独特优势，凝聚各方面力量和智慧推动全
面建设社会主义现代化国家。
修改工作遵循的原则：一是，认真贯彻落实党中央重大决策部署和中央
人大工作会议精神，保证人大代表始终站稳政治立场、履行政治责任，保证
党的领导全面、系统、整体地落实到国家权力机关履职行权的各方面全过程，
确保代表工作的正确政治方向。二是，坚持以人民为中心，坚持和发展全过
程人民民主，充分发挥各级人大代表作为党和国家联系人民群众的桥梁作用，
不断丰富国家机关联系代表、代表联系人民群众的内容和形式，充分发挥代
表在发展全过程人民民主中的作用。三是，充分总结近年来各级人大代表履
职、各级人大及其常委会开展代表工作的实践经验，坚持问题导向，坚持实
事求是，对实践证明可行、确有必要修改的予以修改完善；属于可改可不改
的，一般不作修改。四是，遵循宪法的规定、原则和精神，同时与近年来新
修改的全国人大组织法、地方组织法、全国人大议事规则和选举法、立法法
等法律做好衔接。
代表法修改列入了十四届全国人大常委会立法规划和全国人大常委会
2024 年度立法工作计划。根据立法工作安排，全国人大常委会法工委、代表
工委于2024 年初组成修法工作专班，启动代表法修改工作。主要开展了以下
工作：一是，深入学习领会习近平总书记关于坚持和完善人民代表大会制度
的重要思想，深入践行全过程人民民主重大理念和实践要求，全面梳理党的
十八大以来党中央关于发挥人大代表作用、做好新时代人大代表工作的重大
决策部署和要求。二是，深入总结新时代人大代表工作的实践经验，组织对
代表法修改有关问题开展专题研究；梳理总结近年来与代表法有关的议案、
建议和法律询问答复。三是，向中央有关部门、31 个省（自治区、直辖市）
和部分设区的市人大常委会以及基层立法联系点发函，征求对代表法修改的
意见建议。四是，召开座谈会，听取部分省级人大常委会代表工作机构、部
分全国人大代表和基层群众的意见建议。五是，到浙江、江西、新疆等地进
行专题调研，深入了解近年来人大代表履职和各级人大常委会开展代表工作
的新实践新经验。六是，在深入研究论证的基础上，起草了代表法修正草案
征求意见稿，并征求中央有关部门、部分省（自治区、直辖市）人大常委会
以及基层立法联系点、全国人大各专门委员会和有关工作机构的意见。2024
年 10 月 17 日，全国人大常委会领导同志主持召开专题会议，对代表法修改
的主要问题进行专门研究。经反复研究和修改完善后，形成了代表法修正草
案。
三、代表法修正草案的主要内容
代表法修正草案共 32 条，主要修改内容如下：
（一）充实总则部分规定
贯彻党中央决策部署，突出对代表履职的政治要求。一是与全国人大组
织法、地方组织法有关规定相衔接，明确人大代表的任期（修正草案第一
条）。二是贯彻落实宪法规定，体现新时代党的重大理论创新成果，明确代
表应当坚持党的领导、坚持党和国家的指导思想，增加规定：全国人民代表
大会和地方各级人民代表大会代表应当坚持中国共产党的领导，坚持以马克
思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展
观、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚定不移走中国特色社会
主义政治发展道路，遵循民主集中制原则（修正草案第二条）。三是贯彻全
过程人民民主重大理念，明确代表密切联系人民群众的原则要求，增加规定：
全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会代表执行代表职务，应当坚持以
人民为中心，践行全过程人民民主，始终同人民保持密切联系，忠实代表人
民的利益和意志，自觉接受人民监督（修正草案第三条）。四是明确代表在
推进全面依法治国中的职责，增加规定：全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民
代表大会代表应当忠于宪法，弘扬宪法精神，维护宪法权威，维护国家法治
的统一、尊严、权威，坚持推进全面依法治国，建设更高水平的社会主义法
治国家（修正草案第三条）。五是完善代表的权利义务有关规定，增加规定
代表“参加本级人民代表大会闭会期间的各项履职活动”；“履行参加选举和
表决的法定职责”，“带头践行社会主义核心价值观，铸牢中华民族共同体意
识，自觉遵守社会主义道德”（修正草案第四条、第五条）。
（二）拓展和深化“两个联系”制度机制
贯彻党中央关于密切国家机关同人大代表的联系、密切人大代表同人民
群众的联系的要求，总结实践经验，完善相关制度机制：一是明确国家机关
联系代表的原则要求，增加规定：各级人大常委会应当密切同代表的联系，
加强代表工作能力建设，支持和保障代表依法履职，充分发挥代表作用；各
级人民政府、监察委员会、人民法院、人民检察院应当加强同代表的联系，
听取代表的意见和建议（修正草案第六条）。二是进一步完善代表联系人民
群众制度，丰富代表联系人民群众的内容和形式，增加规定：代表按照就地
就近的原则，根据县级以上的地方各级人大常委会或者乡镇人大主席团的安
排开展活动，密切同人民群众的联系，听取和反映人民群众的意见和建议
（修正草案第十二条）。三是进一步完善人大常委会联系代表制度，明确县
级以上的各级人大常委会应当采取多种方式同本级人大代表保持联系，建立
健全常委会组成人员和各专门委员会、常委会工作机构联系代表的工作机制，
扩大代表对立法、监督等各项工作的参与，充分发挥代表作用；明确乡镇人
大主席、副主席联系代表的有关要求（修正草案第二十条）。四是完善“一
府一委两院”联系代表制度，增加规定：各级人民政府及其所属各部门，监
察委员会，人民法院，人民检察院，根据本级人大常委会的统筹安排，可以
邀请代表参与相关工作和活动，听取代表的意见和建议（修正草案第二十二
条）。
（三）完善人大代表工作能力建设有关规定
贯彻党中央关于加强人大代表工作能力建设的要求，与有关法律、决定
相衔接，明确代表工作机构及其职责。一是增加规定：各级人大常委会设立
代表工作委员会，作为常委会的工作机构（修正草案第六条）。二是明确代
表工作委员会在转交代表视察、调研报告等方面的职责（修正草案第十五
条）。三是增加规定：县级以上的各级人大常委会制定年度代表工作计划；
年度代表工作计划由委员长会议或者主任会议通过，向本级人大代表通报，
并向社会公布（修正草案第十九条）。
（四）完善代表在本级人民代表大会会议期间的工作有关规定
代表在本级人民代表大会会议期间的工作是代表履职的集中体现。结合
近年来代表在大会会议期间依法履职的实际做法，完善有关规定：一是进一
步明确代表在大会会议前的各项准备工作，明确代表在出席本级人民代表大
会会议前，应当通过多种形式听取人民群众的意见和建议，认真研读拟提交
大会会议审议的议案和报告，为会议期间执行代表职务做好准备（修正草案
第七条）。二是明确严肃会风会纪相关要求，增加规定：代表出席本级人民
代表大会会议，应当遵守会议纪律，保持良好会风（修正草案第七条）。三
是根据实践做法，增加规定：各级人民代表大会会议举行前，代表按照选举
单位或者根据实际需要组成代表团（修正草案第八条）。四是与全国人大议
事规则等法律相衔接，完善代表投票和表决制度，明确代表对确定的候选人
表示反对的，可以另选他人；代表参加本级人民代表大会表决，可以表示赞
成，可以表示反对，也可以表示弃权（修正草案第九条、第十条）。
（五）完善代表在本级人民代表大会闭会期间的活动有关规定
人大代表参加大会闭会期间的活动，是代表依法履职的重要方式。结合
近年来的实践做法，进一步规范代表在大会闭会期间的活动：一是完善代表
小组的组成，明确县级以上的各级人大代表“根据地域、领域等”组成代表
小组（修正草案第十一条）。二是贯彻落实中央人大工作会议精神，根据实
践做法，增加规定：根据安排，设区的市级以上的各级人大代表也可以在本
行政区域内跨原选举单位进行视察、开展专题调研（修正草案第十三条、第
十四条）。三是在现有代表视察有关要求的基础上，增加对代表专题调研的
要求，明确代表参加专题调研活动时，可以向有关单位提出建议、批评和意
见，但不直接处理问题（修正草案第十五条）。四是进一步扩大代表对常委
会、专门委员会工作的参与，增加规定：县级以上的各级人大代表可以应邀
参加人大常委会、专门委员会和常委会工作机构组织的座谈会、论证会、评
估会、听证会等（修正草案第十六条）。五是明确县级人大代表可以列席原
选区所在的乡镇人民代表大会会议（修正草案第十七条）。
（六）完善代表执行职务的保障有关规定
一是根据地方的意见，与地方组织法有关规定相衔接，明确代表依法执
行代表职务，国家根据需要给予往返的旅费和必要的物质上的便利或者补贴
（修正草案第十八条）。二是增加规定：县级以上的各级人大常委会可以运
用现代信息技术，建立健全代表履职网络平台，为代表执行代表职务、加强
履职学习等提供便利和服务（修正草案第二十一条）。三是完善代表履职学
习的内容，增加规定：代表学习贯彻中国共产党的理论和路线、方针、政策，
全面熟悉宪法和法律、代表履职基础知识和应用知识，以及经济、政治、文
化、社会、生态文明建设等各方面知识；明确乡镇人大代表应当参加上级人
大常委会和乡镇人大主席团组织的代表履职学习（修正草案第二十三条）。
四是根据实践做法，增加规定：身体残疾的代表执行代表职务时，有关部门
应当根据需要给予必要的帮助和照顾（修正草案第二十七条）。五是加强代
表履职宣传工作，增加规定：县级以上的各级人大常委会可以采取多种形式
宣传代表依法履职、发挥作用的典型事迹，展现代表践行全过程人民民主的
生动实践（修正草案第二十八条）。
（七）完善代表议案、建议办理机制
根据实践做法，与有关法律规定相衔接，保障代表依法提出议案建议，
提高议案建议办理工作质量，更好发挥代表作用：一是完善代表议案办理机
制，增加规定：代表向本级人民代表大会提出的议案，有关专门委员会在研
究、审议的过程中，应当与代表联系沟通，充分听取意见，并及时通报议案
研究、审议的情况（修正草案第二十四条）。二是完善代表建议、批评和意
见的交办、督促和报告制度，明确代表对各方面工作提出的建议、批评和意
见，由本级人大常委会代表工作委员会或者乡镇人大主席团交有关机关、组
织研究办理。代表建议、批评和意见的办理情况，由代表工作委员会向本级
人大常委会报告，并印发下一次人民代表大会会议；或者由乡镇人大主席团
向乡镇人民代表大会报告。县级以上的各级人大有关专门委员会、常委会代
表工作委员会应当加强对代表建议、批评和意见的督促办理（修正草案第二
十五条）。三是明确代表建议的重点督办机制，增加规定：县级以上的各级
人大常委会围绕经济社会发展和关系人民群众切身利益、社会普遍关注的重
大问题、重大事项，可以确定重点督办的建议、批评和意见，由委员长会议
或者主任会议通过，本级人大有关专门委员会负责督办（修正草案第二十六
条）。
（八）完善代表履职监督管理有关规定
强化代表的履职监督管理，一是明确代表的政治责任，增加规定：代表
应当站稳政治立场，履行政治责任，加强思想作风建设，自觉接受监督，自
觉维护代表形象（修正草案第二十九条）。二是完善代表履职报告制度，在
选民直接选举的代表应当以多种方式向原选区选民报告履职情况的现行规定
基础上，增加规定间接选举的代表应当向原选举单位报告履职情况；明确县
级人大常委会和乡镇人大主席团应当记录代表履职情况，公示代表基本信息
和履职信息（修正草案第三十条）。三是进一步明确代表不得利用执行代表
职务干预执法或者变相从事商业活动牟取个人利益（修正草案第三十一条）。
四是根据实际做法，在代表资格终止的情形中增加规定“被责令辞职”（修
正草案第三十二条）。
（九）适应监察体制改革需要补充相关内容
根据宪法、监察法的规定，与全国人大组织法等有关法律相衔接，对监
察委员会的有关内容作了如下补充完善：一是在人大代表参加选举和罢免国
家机构领导人员的规定中增加“监察委员会主任”有关表述（修正草案第九
条、第三十二条）。二是在代表依法提出质询案的对象范围中增加“监察委
员会”有关表述（修正草案第三十二条）。三是明确监察委员会应当及时向
本级人大代表通报工作情况，提供信息资料，保障代表的知情权（修正草案
第二十二条）。
此外，还作了一些文字修改，并对个别条文顺序作了调整。
关于《中华人民共和国仲裁法（修订草案）》的说明
一、修订背景和过程
党中央、国务院高度重视仲裁工作。习近平总书记多次对仲裁工作作出
重要指示，强调要建设同高质量发展、高水平开放要求相适应的涉外法治体
系和能力，为中国式现代化行稳致远营造有利法治条件和外部环境；积极发
展涉外法律服务，培育一批国际一流的仲裁机构。国务院领导同志就完善仲
裁制度、提高仲裁公信力提出要求。
现行仲裁法自 1995 年施行，截至 2024 年 8 月底，全国依法设立 282 家
仲裁委员会，当事人涉及 100 多个国家和地区，处理的纠纷涉及金融、电子
商务、建筑工程、海事海商、知识产权等多个领域，为服务经济发展和对外
开放发挥了重要作用。同时，随着我国社会主义市场经济的发展和对外开放
的扩大，仲裁工作暴露出涉外制度缺乏、开放包容度不够、监管制度不健全
等问题，推进新时期仲裁事业改革发展，亟需将党的十八大以来党中央关于
仲裁工作的决策部署以及实践中行之有效的做法明确为法律制度，对仲裁法
全面修订，切实提升我国仲裁公信力和国际竞争力，更好服务高质量发展和
高水平开放。仲裁法修改已分别列入全国人大常委会和国务院2024 年度立法
工作计划。
为贯彻落实党中央、国务院决策部署，加强涉外法治建设，加快完善适
应新时代新征程需要的仲裁法律制度，营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营
商环境，按照工作安排，司法部依照有关法律法规规定，履行组织起草重要
法律草案职责，牵头并商请全国人大常委会法工委、最高人民法院等单位组
建工作专班，聚焦重点问题深入调研论证，两次大范围征求中央有关单位、
地方人民政府以及部分仲裁机构、企业、专家学者意见，向社会公开征求意
见，数易其稿，稳妥推进，各方面已达成一致意见，形成修订草案。修订草
案已经国务院常务会议讨论通过。
二、总体思路和主要内容
修订草案坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻
习近平法治思想，贯彻落实党的二十大精神特别是二十届三中全会关于深化
仲裁制度改革，健全国际商事仲裁和调解制度，培育国际一流仲裁机构，推
进海事仲裁制度规则创新的重要部署，立足健全完善具有中国特色、与国际
通行规则相融通的仲裁法律制度，主要把握三点：一是坚持问题导向、目标
导向，着眼于解决仲裁制度和实践中的突出问题，着力提高仲裁公信力和国
际竞争力。二是坚持守正创新，延续现行仲裁基本原则、制度的同时，对接
联合国《国际商事仲裁示范法》等国际通行的经贸规则，着重对涉外仲裁制
度进行完善。三是坚持系统观念，兼顾我国各类仲裁委员会差异，综合考虑
不同仲裁纠纷特点，统筹仲裁工作实践进程，为相关改革创新留出制度空间。
修订草案共 8 章91 条，主要规定了以下内容：
（一）坚持党的领导。明确规定仲裁工作坚持中国共产党的领导，贯彻
落实党和国家路线方针政策、决策部署，服务国家开放和发展战略，发挥化
解社会矛盾纠纷的作用。（第二条）
（二）完善涉外仲裁制度。一是助力高水平对外开放，拓宽涉外仲裁案
件范围。将现行法“涉外经济贸易、运输和海事中发生的纠纷的仲裁”修改
为“具有涉外因素的纠纷的仲裁”，使更多案件能够适用“涉外仲裁的特别
规定”。（第七十五条）二是增加具有中国特色的“特别仲裁”制度，增强我
国涉外仲裁制度的开放性、包容度及融通性。针对涉外海事中发生的纠纷、
自由贸易试验区内企业间的涉外纠纷这两类特定案件，明确当事人除可选择
通常适用的仲裁委员会仲裁外，还可选择在境内地点、按照约定仲裁规则、
由符合条件人员组成仲裁庭这一特别方式进行仲裁。（第七十九条）三是增
设“仲裁地”制度，完善仲裁司法管辖规则。仲裁地作为当事人解决纠纷约
定选择的某个国家或者地区，是确定仲裁程序适用法、证据规则、仲裁裁决
的国籍及司法管辖法院的重要依据。当事人可以书面约定仲裁地，并鼓励涉
外仲裁当事人选择我国仲裁委员会、约定我国作为仲裁地进行仲裁。（第七
十八条、第八十四条）四是支持仲裁机构“走出去”、“引进来”，服务国家
开放和发展战略。明确支持我国仲裁委员会到境外设立业务机构开展仲裁活
动，同时根据经济社会发展和改革开放需要，允许境外仲裁机构在国务院批
准设立的自由贸易试验区内依照国家有关规定开展涉外仲裁活动。（第八十
三条）五是支持我国仲裁委员会参与国际投资仲裁。明确仲裁委员会、仲裁
庭可以依照有关国际投资条约、协定，按照争议双方约定的仲裁规则办理国
际投资仲裁案件。（第八十九条）
（三）提高仲裁公信力。一是完善仲裁委员会内部治理及管理制度，发
挥仲裁委员会主体作用。明确仲裁委员会的公益性非营利法人属性，要求其
建立健全内部治理结构及民主议事、人员管理、投诉处理等方面管理制度，
加强对其组成人员、工作人员、仲裁员违法违纪行为的监督。（第十二条、
第十八条）二是提高仲裁委员会、仲裁员的透明度，保障当事人恰当选择仲
裁委员会、仲裁员。建立信息公开和披露制度，要求仲裁委员会及时向社会
公开章程、仲裁规则、仲裁员名册、年度工作报告等信息，要求仲裁员披露
可能影响其独立性、公正性的信息。（第十九条、第四十二条）三是拓宽仲
裁员聘任渠道，规范仲裁员选聘管理。增加“曾任检察官满八年”及“具有
科学技术知识的专业人员”、“从事法律工作的专业人员”可担任仲裁员，规
范公职人员兼任仲裁员，明确仲裁员（法律类）应当参加统一职前培训，强
化仲裁委员会动态审查仲裁员聘任资格的义务。（第二十条）四是明确司法
行政工作职责,加强对仲裁事业的统筹规划。规定司法部依法指导、监督全国
仲裁工作，完善监督管理制度，省级人民政府司法行政部门依法指导、监督
本行政区域内仲裁工作，明确司法行政部门的行政处罚权限，完善仲裁委员
会设立、变更、注销登记程序。（第十三条、第十五条、第十六条、第二十
三条）五是强化仲裁活动主体的诚信义务，防范虚假仲裁。增加仲裁应当遵
循诚信原则的规定，并明确仲裁庭发现当事人恶意串通，通过仲裁侵害国家
利益、社会公共利益或他人合法权益的应当驳回。（第九条、第五十八条）
（四）推进与国际通行规则相融通的中国特色仲裁实践创新。一是总结
我国仲裁实践经验，明确通过网络进行仲裁的法律效力。规定经当事人同意，
仲裁活动可以通过信息网络平台在线进行，并与线下仲裁具有同等法律效力。
（第十一条）二是明确仲裁庭“自裁管辖权”、缩短申请撤销裁决的时限，
发挥仲裁的高效优势。规定当事人对仲裁协议效力有异议的，可以请求人民
法院裁定，也可以请求仲裁委员会或者仲裁庭决定；当事人申请撤销裁决的，
应当自收到裁决书之日起三个月内提出。（第二十八条、第六十九条）三是
扩大仲裁协议的认定方式、增加仲裁送达制度、拓宽首席仲裁员选定方式，
充分尊重当事人意思自治。规定一方当事人主张有仲裁协议，另一方在首次
开庭前不予否认的，经仲裁庭提示并记录，视为存在仲裁协议；仲裁文件以
当事人约定的合理方式送达，没有约定或者约定不明的，按照仲裁规则规定
的方式送达；增加当事人可以约定由其各自选定的仲裁员共同选定第三名仲
裁员。（第二十四条、第三十八条、第四十条）
关于《中华人民共和国海商法（修订草案）》的说明
一、修订背景和过程
海商法是调整、规范海上运输关系和船舶关系的重要涉外法律。党中央、
国务院高度重视涉外法治建设。习近平总书记多次作出重要指示批示，指出
涉外法律制度是国家法制的重要组成部分，是涉外法治的基础；要坚持立法
先行、立改废释并举，形成系统完备的涉外法律法规体系。党的二十届三中
全会对完善涉外法律法规体系作出部署。李强总理在2024 年《政府工作报告》
中明确提出，要主动对接高标准国际经贸规则，稳步扩大制度型开放，增强
国内国际两个市场两种资源联动效应。
现行海商法自 1993 年 7 月 1 日施行以来，对于调整、规范海上运输关系
和船舶关系，维护当事人各方合法权益，促进航运和贸易发展发挥了重要作
用。随着时代发展，海商实践中出现许多新情况新问题，现行海商法已不能
完全适应实际需要，亟需修改完善：一是相对于航运和贸易的快速发展，特
别是航运和贸易规模、业态、技术等方面的变化，现行海商法部分规定滞后、
相关制度缺失等问题日益凸显。二是海洋生态文明建设深入推进，亟待从制
度层面作出回应、提供保障。三是国际海商立法不断发展，海商法作为重要
涉外法律，需要与国际通行规则相通相容。四是我国民商事立法持续完善，
海商法需要与之做好协调衔接。在总结实施经验的基础上对现行海商法进行
修改完善，是贯彻落实习近平总书记关于加强涉外法治建设重要指示批示精
神和党中央、国务院决策部署的重要举措，是新时代推动航运和贸易高质量
发展、助力海洋强国建设的客观要求。海商法修订已分别列入全国人大常委
会和国务院 2024 年度立法工作计划。
司法部会同交通运输部并商最高人民法院，深入调查研究，向社会公开
征求意见，两次广泛征求中央有关单位、地方人民政府、海事法院、有关行
业协会商会以及航运、贸易、港口、保险等相关企业和研究机构、专家学者
等方面意见，就重点问题开展研究论证，反复研究修改，形成了修订草案。
修订草案已经国务院常务会议讨论通过。
二、修改的总体思路
海商法修改坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯
彻落实习近平法治思想，全面贯彻落实党中央、国务院关于加强涉外法治建
设的决策部署，主要把握以下三点：一是准确把握海商实践发展的制度诉求，
着力解决规则滞后、制度缺失等突出问题，增强修法的针对性、实效性。二
是立足我国既是航运大国又是贸易大国的实际，合理平衡相关行业主体的权
责配置，有效激发内生动力和活力。三是统筹国内和国际，健全具有中国特
色、顺应国际趋势的海商法律制度，更好适应高水平对外开放、畅通国内国
际双循环的需要。
三、修改的主要内容
现行海商法共 15 章 278 条，修订草案共 16 章 311 条，对现行海商法作
了较为全面的修改。主要修改内容如下：
（一）统一国内和国际海上货物运输的法律适用。现行海商法第二条第
二款规定：“本法第四章海上货物运输合同的规定，不适用于中华人民共和
国港口之间的海上货物运输。”当时的主要考虑是：现行海商法制定时国内
港口之间的海上货物运输在许多方面仍实行计划管理，不具备与国际海上货
物运输适用同一规则的条件。随着社会主义市场经济的发展，国内海上货物
运输市场发生了很大变化，统一国内和国际海上货物运输法律适用的条件已
经成熟。修订草案据此相应调整了现行海商法的适用范围，删去了第二条第
二款的规定，以更好统筹国内国际两个市场，进一步促进航运和贸易发展。
同时，为解决因缺乏具有针对性的民商事制度规则对内河货物运输行业发展
和海事审判实践造成的困扰，修订草案规定内河货物运输参照适用本法第四
章关于国内海上货物运输的有关规定。（第三百零九条）
（二）适当调整海商活动当事人的权利和义务。为适应新形势下航运和
贸易发展的实际需要，合理配置责任和风险，促进形成更加明确稳定的市场
预期，修订草案适当调整了海商活动当事人的权利和义务。一是适当强化海
上货物运输承运人责任，更好平衡船货双方利益；明确实际托运人可以要求
承运人签发运输单证，托运人可以书面通知承运人变更卸货港；细化承运人
交付货物的规则要求等。（第四十八条、第七十四条、第八十八条、第九十
七条）二是加大对旅客权益的保护力度，适当提高海上旅客运输承运人对旅
客人身伤亡和财产损失的赔偿责任限额，并统一国内和国际海上旅客运输赔
偿责任限额；规定承运人对旅客人身伤亡赔偿责任进行责任保险，并明确人
身伤亡赔偿请求可以直接向责任保险人提出。（第一百一十六条、第一百二
十六条、第一百二十七条）三是适当提高船舶所有人、海难救助方对相关海
事赔偿请求的赔偿责任限额。（第二百二十条、第二百二十一条）四是适当
调整海上保险合同当事人的权利和义务，明确保险人解除保险合同时退还保
险费的有关规则、保险人对保险合同格式条款的说明和提示义务、预约保险
合同中被保险人向保险人如实申报有关事项的义务等。（第二百五十条、第
二百五十一条、第二百六十一条）
（三）为航运数字化发展提供制度保障。适应航运单证电子化实际需要，
参考借鉴《联合国贸易法委员会电子可转让记录示范法》和有关国际公约，
在第四章“海上货物运输合同”中增加“电子运输记录”一节（第五节），
明确了电子运输记录的法律地位，规定符合法定条件的电子运输记录与运输
单证具有同等效力；承运人和托运人协商一致可以签发、使用电子运输记录；
电子运输记录应当符合内容完整、准确，可供调取查用，签发人能够被识别，
持有人能够证明其身份等条件；电子运输记录与运输单证之间可以互相转换。
（第八十三条至第八十七条）
（四）健全海洋生态环境保护相关制度。根据我国参加的有关国际公约，
增加“船舶油污损害责任”一章（第十二章），明确了船舶油污损害赔偿的
范围，规定船舶油污损害赔偿责任由漏油船舶所有人承担，国家建立船舶油
污损害强制责任保险制度和船舶油污损害赔偿基金制度（第二百二十六条至
第二百三十一条）；对船舶载运油类污染损害责任和船舶燃油污染损害责任
有关事宜，分设专节作了具体规定（第二百三十三条至第二百四十一条）。
同时，明确了船长在防治和减少海洋环境污染方面的职责，规定海难救助的
救助方和被救助方不得通过合同约定免除其防止或者减少环境损害的义务。
（第三十七条、第四十条、第一百八十一条）
（五）完善涉外关系法律适用有关规则。一是明确规定装货港或者卸货
港位于我国境内的国际海上货物运输合同适用本法第四章的规定。（第二百
九十七条）二是对一些重要涉外关系的法律适用规则作了补充完善，规定建
造中的船舶所有权、抵押权，船舶已经登记的适用登记国法律，未经登记的
适用船舶建造地法律；船舶留置权适用船舶被留置地法律；船舶油污损害责
任适用油污损害结果发生地法律等。（第二百九十八条、第二百九十九条、
第三百零一条、第三百零二条、第三百零四条、第三百零六条）
此外，对现行海商法还作了其他一些重要修改：一是为促进我国船舶融
资租赁业务发展，明确了船舶融资租赁物权登记有关事宜以及租赁船舶对出
租人债权实现的保障功能。（第八条）二是充分体现当事人意思自治，明确
当事人对建造中船舶的所有权有约定的，按照其约定（第十条）；将有关航
次租船合同的规定从“海上货物运输合同”一章调整到“租船合同”一章
（第六章），明确该章规定仅在租船合同没有约定或者没有不同约定时适用
（第一百二十九条）。三是相应调整海上旅客运输合同定义，使其适用于邮
轮运输新业态。（第一百零六条）四是为提高我国航运保险承保能力和全球
服务水平，将建造中的船舶保险合同纳入本法适用范围（第二百四十七条），
并明确了在实践中发挥重要作用、具有互助保险性质的会员制互助组织的法
律地位及其规则适用（第三百一十条）。五是完善共同海损有关规则，明确
船舶、货物或者其他财产泄漏污染物造成的损失或者支付的费用不得列入共
同海损。（第二百零三条）六是完善有关海事请求诉讼时效规定，更好维护
当事人合法权益。（第十四章）
关于《中华人民共和国科学技术普及法（修订草案）》的说明
一、修订背景和过程
科学技术普及是实现创新发展的重要基础性工作。党中央、国务院高度
重视科普工作。习近平总书记指出，科技创新、科学普及是实现创新发展的
两翼，要把科学普及放在与科技创新同等重要的位置。李强总理对加强科普
工作作出部署。丁薛祥同志提出明确要求。
现行科学技术普及法于2002 年公布施行，对促进科学技术普及、提高公
民科学文化素质、推动创新发展发挥了重要作用。随着我国进入新发展阶段，
我国科普事业蓬勃发展，但还存在对科普工作重要性认识不够、主动性不强，
高质量科普产品和服务供给不足，科普队伍建设滞后，科普基础设施较为薄
弱等问题。2022 年中央办公厅、国务院办公厅印发的《关于新时代进一步加
强科学技术普及工作的意见》，对新时代科普事业发展作出部署。2024年6月
24 日，全国科技大会召开，习近平总书记强调，坚持培育创新文化，使崇尚
科学、追求创新在全社会蔚然成风。为贯彻落实党中央、国务院决策部署，
解决科普发展中的突出问题，有必要修改现行科学技术普及法。修订科学技
术普及法已分别列入全国人大常委会和国务院 2024 年度立法工作计划。
科技部会同有关单位经广泛调研、征求有关方面意见、向社会公开征求
意见，起草了《中华人民共和国科学技术普及法修订草案（送审稿）》，于
2023 年 9 月报送国务院。司法部先后两次征求中央有关部门、省级人民政府
和部分行业协会、学会、科技机构等方面意见，赴地方调研。在此基础上，
司法部会同科技部反复研究修改，形成修订草案，并根据党的二十届三中全
会和全国科技大会精神对修订草案进行了完善。修订草案已经国务院常务会
议讨论通过。
二、总体思路和主要内容
修订草案遵循以下总体思路：一是坚持党对科普事业的领导，贯彻落实
党中央、国务院关于科普事业发展的决策部署。二是结合科普领域改革发展
实际，将切实可行的政策和成熟做法上升为法律规范。三是适应科普面临的
新形势、新要求，聚焦科普发展中的突出问题，优化创新制度，完善体制机
制。
修订草案新增“科普活动”和“科普人员”两章，共 8 章 60 条，主要规
定了以下内容：
（一）明确科普的总体要求和目标方向。一是增加规定坚持中国共产党
对科普事业的全面领导，开展科普应当以人民为中心，坚持面向世界科技前
沿、面向经济主战场、面向国家重大需求、面向人民生命健康，培育和弘扬
创新文化。（第三条）二是增加规定国家把科普放在与科技创新同等重要位
置，推动科普全面融入经济、政治、文化、社会、生态文明建设。（第四条、
第五条）三是强调科普工作应当践行社会主义核心价值观，弘扬科学精神和
科学家精神，遵守科技伦理规范。（第六条）四是明确国家实施全民科学素
质行动，引导公民培育理性思维，树立科学的世界观和方法论，提高劳动、
生产、创新创造的技能。（第十一条）
（二）强化科普社会责任。一是细化学校科普责任。强调各级各类学校
应当加强科学教育，提升师生科学文化素质。（第十九条）二是强化科研机
构科普责任。强调科研机构应当使科普成为机构运行的重要内容，为开展科
普活动提供必要的支持和保障。（第二十一条）三是强化企业、社会团体科
普责任。强调企业应当把科普作为履行社会责任的重要内容，鼓励企业向公
众开放实验室、生产线等科研、生产设施；各类自然科学和社会科学类社会
团体等应当组织开展专业领域科普活动。（第二十二条、第二十三条）
（三）促进科普活动。一是支持科普创作、发展科普产业。明确国家支
持科普产品和服务研究开发，鼓励创作高质量科普作品，推动科普公共服务
市场化，鼓励兴办科普企业，促进科普与文化、旅游等产业融合发展。（第
二十八条、第二十九条）二是加强重点领域科普。明确国家推动新技术、新
知识传播与推广；部署实施前沿技术领域重大科技任务，应当组织开展有针
对性的科普；加强突发事件预防、救援、应急处置等方面的科普工作，完善
应急性科普响应机制。（第三十条至第三十二条）三是加强科普信息审核监
测。要求提供科普产品和服务、发布科普信息的组织和个人对科普内容的合
法性、科学性负责，各类互联网传播平台建立健全发布科普信息的科学性审
核机制，国家加强对科普信息发布和传播的监测与评估，对伪科学、反科学
等信息及时采取措施。（第三十四条、第三十五条）四是加强科普工作评估。
规定国家完善科普工作评估体系和公民科学素质监测评估体系，开展科普调
查统计和公民科学素质测评，监测和评价科普事业发展成效。（第三十七条）
（四）加强科普队伍建设。一是规定加强科普工作人员能力培训和交流，
建立专业化科普工作人员队伍；完善科普志愿服务制度和工作体系，支持志
愿者开展科普志愿服务。（第三十八条、第四十一条）二是明确支持有条件
的高校、职业学校设置和完善科普相关学科和专业，培养科普专业人才。
（第四十条）三是强调健全科普人员评价、激励机制，鼓励相关单位建立符
合科普特点的职称评定、绩效考核等评价制度。（第四十二条）
（五）强化保障措施。一是加强科普场馆建设。增加规定国家完善科普
场馆和科普基地建设布局，扩大科普设施覆盖面；各级政府应当对符合规划
的科普场馆建设给予支持。（第四十四条、第四十五条）二是促进科普资源
共享。强调国家建设完善开放、共享的国家科普资源库和科普资源公共服务
平台，推动全社会科普资源共建共享。（第四十六条）三是完善评价激励机
制。要求科研机构、企业、学校的主管部门以及科学技术等相关行政部门建
立有利于促进科普的评价标准和制度机制；鼓励社会力量设立科普奖项。
（第五十一条、第五十三条）
此外，修订草案完善了相关法律责任。
Explanation on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Deputies to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at All Levels (Draft Amendment)
I. The necessity and significance of amending the Law on Deputies
The people's congress system is the fundamental political system of our country. Our Constitution stipulates: "All power in the People's Republic of China belongs to the people. The organs through which the people exercise state power are the National People's Congress and the local people's congresses at all levels." People's Congress deputies are members of the state power organs, representing the interests and will of the people and participating in the exercise of state power in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has attached great importance to the work of NPC deputies. From the perspective of developing people's democracy throughout the process and ensuring that the people are masters of their own country, it has made decisions and arrangements to give full play to the role of NPC deputies and strengthen the capacity building of NPC deputies, and promoted new progress and achievements in the work of NPC deputies.
In October 2021, the Central People's Congress Work Conference clearly put forward the task requirements such as giving full play to the role of NPC deputies. In October 2022, the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to strengthen the capacity building of NPC deputies and close the connection between NPC deputies and the people. In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee decided to enrich the content and forms of NPC deputies’ contact with the people and improve the working mechanism for absorbing public opinion and gathering people’s wisdom. In September 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the meeting celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National People’s Congress, and made clear requirements for NPC deputies to serve as a bridge between the Party and the state and the people, and for all state organs to support and guarantee NPC deputies to perform their duties in accordance with the law, and to improve the institutional mechanism for contacting deputies. The Representative Law is a basic law that regulates and guarantees NPC deputies to exercise their powers, perform their obligations, and play their roles in accordance with the law. The current Representative Law was adopted and promulgated at the Fifth Session of the Seventh National People’s Congress in 1992, and was partially amended in 2009, 2010, and 2015. The promulgation and implementation of this law has played an important role in regulating and ensuring that deputies perform their duties in accordance with the law, giving full play to the role of deputies, and ensuring that the people are masters of their own country. In order to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on upholding and improving the people’s congress system, and implement the major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, it is necessary to carefully summarize the practical experience of the work of people’s congress deputies in the new era, revise and improve the Deputies Law in line with the times, further improve the institutional mechanism for deputies to perform their duties, strengthen the connection between state organs, especially the Standing Committees of the People’s Congresses at all levels, and deputies, and strengthen the connection between deputies and the people, strengthen the guarantee and supervision of deputies to perform their duties, use the system to ensure that the people are masters of the country, uphold, improve, and operate the people’s congress system well, better transform institutional advantages into governance effectiveness, and provide institutional guarantees for building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.
(I) Revising the Deputies Law is an inevitable requirement for upholding the overall leadership of the Party and unswervingly following the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The people’s congress system is a fundamental political system arrangement that organically integrates the Party’s leadership, the people’s mastery of the country, and the rule of law, and is an important institutional carrier for the Party to lead the state power organs. People’s Congresses at all levels and their Standing Committees are political organs led by the Communist Party of China, and the overall leadership of the Party is the highest political principle of the work of the People’s Congresses. As members of the people's congresses at all levels, deputies to the National People's Congress shoulder the trust of the Party and the people. They participate in the exercise of the power to manage state affairs in accordance with the law. They must be clear-cut about politics, improve their political standing, stand firm in their political stance, and fulfill their political responsibilities. The 2021 "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee on Upholding and Improving the People's Congress System and Strengthening and Improving the Work of the People's Congress in the New Era" clearly stated that deputies to the National People's Congress at all levels must stand firm in their political stance, perform their duties in accordance with the law, and faithfully share the Party's worries and perform their duties for the people. Amending the Deputies Law to clarify that deputies to the National People's Congress at all levels must adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adhere to the guiding ideology of the Party and the country, stand firm in their political stance, fulfill their political responsibilities, strengthen ideological and work style construction, and study and implement the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies is of great significance for ensuring that deputies perform their duties in accordance with the law and that the Party's lines, principles, policies, and decision-making arrangements are fully implemented and effectively implemented in national work through the people's congress system. (II) Amending the Deputies Law is an objective requirement for giving full play to the role of deputies and upholding, improving and operating the people's congress system. People's Congress deputies are the main body of the people's congress and represent the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the people. The role of people's congress deputies is directly related to the operation of the people's congress system and the quality and level of the work of the people's congress. The main forms of exercising power by people's congress deputies are to attend people's congress meetings, participate in the formulation and revision of important laws and regulations, the review and approval of plans and budgets, and the deliberation and decision-making of major matters, participate in elections and vote on important personnel appointments and removals in accordance with the law, and put forward motions and suggestions, etc. During the recess, people's congress deputies conduct research and inspections, participate in the relevant work of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress and special committees, deeply understand the demands of the masses through various forms, and put forward opinions and suggestions to the party and state organs through the channels of the people's congress, which is also an important way to perform their representative duties. The work of people's congress deputies during the congress meetings and the activities during the recess are all the performance of representative duties. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, people's congresses at all levels have improved the institutional mechanism for the Standing Committee to contact deputies, strengthened the participation of deputies in the legislative and supervisory work of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress, improved the research and inspection work of deputies, strengthened the handling of deputies' suggestions during recess, and effectively guaranteed the full play of the role of deputies. The revised Representative Law clarifies that the Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at all levels should maintain close contact with deputies, and that the people's governments, supervisory committees, people's courts, and people's procuratorates at all levels should strengthen their contact with deputies; clearly establishes and improves the working mechanism for the members of the Standing Committees, special committees, and working bodies of the Standing Committees to contact deputies, and expands the participation of deputies in legislation, supervision and other work; and clarifies that deputies can conduct inspections and special research across their original electoral units within their administrative regions. This is of great significance for giving full play to the role of deputies and upholding, improving, and operating the people's congress system. (III) Revising the Representative Law is an objective requirement for developing full-process people's democracy and making people's congresses at all levels and their standing committees representative organs that maintain close contact with the people. Full-process people's democracy is the essential attribute of socialist democratic politics and an inherent requirement of the people's congress system. The people's congress system is an important institutional carrier for realizing full-process people's democracy in my country. At the Central People's Congress Work Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the people's congresses at all levels and their standing committees should become representative organs that maintain close contact with the people. This is the goal and task of the people's congresses and their standing committees to strengthen their own construction, and it is also an important guideline for doing a good job in the work of the people's congresses in the new era. People's congress deputies at all levels in my country are elected democratically and have broad representation. At present, among the more than 2.77 million people's congress deputies at the five levels in my country, nearly 95% are county and township people's congress deputies, many of whom are front-line workers, farmers, and professional and technical personnel. As a bridge between the Party and the state and the people, people's congress deputies play the characteristics and advantages of coming from the people and taking root in the people, represent the people in participating in the exercise of state power in accordance with the law, and reflect the opinions and demands of the people. This is a vivid embodiment of practicing the whole process of people's democracy. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made arrangements for improving the system of the whole process of people's democracy, including "enriching the content and form of people's congress deputies' contact with the people". Over the years, the people's congress standing committees at all levels have strengthened the construction of platforms for deputies to perform their duties, enriched the content and form of people's congress deputies' contact with the people, and strengthened the connection between deputies and the people. The Representative Law is amended to clarify that when deputies perform their duties, they should adhere to the people-centered approach, practice people's democracy throughout the process, always maintain close ties with the people, faithfully represent the interests and will of the people, and consciously accept the supervision of the people; it is stipulated that deputies should carry out activities in accordance with the principle of being local and nearby, according to the arrangements of the Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at or above the county level or the presidiums of the township people's congresses, and maintain close ties with the people. This is of great significance for ensuring that deputies to the People's Congresses faithfully represent the interests and will of the people, participate in the exercise of state power, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people.
(IV) Amending the Representative Law is a practical need to strengthen the construction of the system of people's mastery of their own affairs and provide institutional guarantees for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the people's congress system is a good system that conforms to my country's national conditions and reality, embodies the nature of a socialist country, guarantees the people's mastery of their own affairs, and guarantees the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation;
It is emphasized that we must adhere to and improve the system of people's mastery of their own affairs, continuously promote the institutionalization, standardization, and proceduralization of socialist democratic politics, and better transform institutional advantages into governance effectiveness. The representative system is an important part of the people's congress system, and the Representative Law is the basic law on the people's congress system.
In recent years, in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee have successively revised and improved the laws related to the people's congress system, transformed the theoretical and practical innovation achievements of the people's congress system since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China into legal system norms, further improved the system of people's mastery of their own affairs, and made the people's congress system more mature and more established. Amending the Representative Law, improving the system of safeguarding and supervising the performance of the duties of representatives, consolidating the foundation of the people's congress system, and improving the system of people's mastery of their own affairs will help strengthen and improve the work of representatives, and will help to widely mobilize and effectively organize all the people to participate in reform and opening up and Chinese-style modernization as masters, and unite and strive for the great cause of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization.
II. Guiding ideology, principles and working process of revising the Representative Law
In revising the Representative Law, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee and the Central People's Congress Work Conference, adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on upholding and improving the people's congress system, adhere to the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people's mastery of the country, and the rule of law, summarize the practical experience of the work of NPC deputies in the new era, enrich the content and form of NPC deputies' contact with the people, improve the working mechanism of absorbing public opinion and gathering public wisdom, strengthen the capacity building of deputies' work and the supervision and management of their duties, deepen the participation of deputies in all aspects of the work of state organs, give full play to the unique advantages of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics, and gather strength and wisdom from all sides to promote the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern country.
Principles to be followed in the revision work: First, conscientiously implement the major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the spirit of the Central People's Congress Work Conference, ensure that NPC deputies always stand firm in their political stance and fulfill their political responsibilities, ensure that the Party's leadership is fully, systematically and comprehensively implemented in all aspects of the performance of duties and powers by state power organs, and ensure the correct political direction of deputies' work. Second, we should adhere to the people-centered approach, adhere to and develop people's democracy throughout the process, give full play to the role of people's congress representatives at all levels as a bridge between the Party and the state and the people, constantly enrich the content and form of state organs' contact with representatives and representatives' contact with the people, and give full play to the role of representatives in developing people's democracy throughout the process. Third, we should fully summarize the practical experience of people's congress representatives at all levels in performing their duties and people's congresses and their standing committees at all levels in recent years, adhere to problem orientation, adhere to seeking truth from facts, and revise and improve those that are proven feasible and necessary to be revised in practice; those that can be revised or not shall generally not be revised. Fourth, we should follow the provisions, principles and spirit of the Constitution, and at the same time, make good connections with the newly revised laws such as the National People's Congress Organization Law, Local Organization Law, National People's Congress Rules of Procedure, Election Law, and Legislative Law in recent years. The revision of the Representative Law is included in the legislative plan of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee and the 2024 legislative work plan of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. According to the legislative work arrangements, the Legislative Affairs Committee and the Representative Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress formed a special task force for legislative revision in early 2024 to start the revision of the Representative Law. The following work was mainly carried out: First, we thoroughly studied and understood General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on upholding and improving the people’s congress system, deeply practiced the major concepts and practical requirements of the whole process of people’s democracy, and comprehensively sorted out the major decisions, arrangements and requirements of the Party Central Committee on giving full play to the role of people’s congress deputies and doing a good job in the work of people’s congress deputies in the new era since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Second, we thoroughly summarized the practical experience of the work of people’s congress deputies in the new era, organized special research on the revision of the Representative Law; sorted out and summarized the bills, suggestions and legal inquiries related to the Representative Law in recent years. Third, we sent letters to relevant central departments, 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government) and some municipal people’s congresses with districts, and grassroots legislative contact points to solicit opinions and suggestions on the revision of the Representative Law. Fourth, we held a symposium to listen to the opinions and suggestions of some provincial people’s congress standing committees’ representative work agencies, some NPC deputies and grassroots people. Fifth, we conducted special research in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Xinjiang and other places to deeply understand the new practices and new experiences of people’s congress deputies in performing their duties and the representative work of the people’s congress standing committees at all levels in recent years. Sixth, on the basis of in-depth research and discussion, a draft amendment to the Representative Law was drafted for soliciting opinions, and opinions were solicited from relevant central departments, some provincial (autonomous region, municipality) people's congresses, grassroots legislative contact points, special committees of the National People's Congress and relevant working agencies. On October 17, 2024, the leaders of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress presided over a special meeting to conduct special research on the main issues of the amendment to the Representative Law. After repeated research and revisions, the draft amendment to the Representative Law was formed.
III. Main contents of the draft amendment to the Representative Law The draft amendment to the Representative Law has a total of 32 articles, and the main revisions are as follows:
(I) Enriching the provisions of the general provisions Implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and highlight the political requirements for the performance of duties by deputies. First, it is connected with the relevant provisions of the National People's Congress Organization Law and the Local Organization Law, and clarifies the term of office of deputies to the National People's Congress (Article 1 of the draft amendment). Second, implement the provisions of the Constitution, reflect the major theoretical innovations of the Party in the new era, clarify that deputies should adhere to the leadership of the Party and the guiding ideology of the Party and the country, and add provisions: Deputies to the National People's Congress and local people's congresses at all levels should adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adhere to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents", the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, unswervingly follow the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and follow the principle of democratic centralism (Article 2 of the revised draft). Third, implement the important concept of full-process people's democracy, clarify the principle and requirement of deputies to maintain close ties with the people, and add provisions: Deputies to the National People's Congress and local people's congresses at all levels should adhere to the people-centered approach, practice full-process people's democracy, always maintain close ties with the people, faithfully represent the interests and will of the people, and consciously accept the supervision of the people (Article 3 of the revised draft). Fourth, clarify the responsibilities of deputies in promoting the comprehensive rule of law, and add provisions: Deputies to the National People's Congress and local people's congresses at all levels should be loyal to the Constitution, promote the spirit of the Constitution, safeguard the authority of the Constitution, and safeguard the unity, dignity and authority of rule of law in the country, and build a higher level of socialist rule of law (Article 3 of the revised draft). Fifth, improve the relevant provisions on the rights and obligations of representatives, and add provisions that representatives "participate in various performance activities during the recess of the People's Congress at this level"; "perform the statutory duties of participating in elections and voting", "take the lead in practicing the core socialist values, forge a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation, and consciously abide by socialist morality" (Articles 4 and 5 of the revised draft).
(II) Expand and deepen the "two links" system mechanism
Implement the requirements of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the connection between state organs and NPC deputies and strengthening the connection between NPC deputies and the people, summarize practical experience, and improve relevant systems and mechanisms: First, clarify the principle requirements for state organs to contact deputies, and add provisions: Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at all levels should strengthen their contact with deputies, strengthen the capacity building of deputies, support and guarantee deputies to perform their duties in accordance with the law, and give full play to the role of deputies; People's governments, supervisory committees, people's courts, and people's procuratorates at all levels should strengthen their contact with deputies and listen to their opinions and suggestions (Article 6 of the revised draft). Second, further improve the system of representatives contacting the masses, enrich the content and forms of representatives contacting the masses, and add provisions: representatives shall carry out activities in accordance with the principle of locality and proximity, according to the arrangements of the local people's congress standing committees at or above the county level or the township people's congress presidium, maintain close contact with the masses, and listen to and reflect the opinions and suggestions of the masses (Article 12 of the revised draft). Third, further improve the system of the standing committees of the people's congresses contacting representatives, clarify that the standing committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level shall adopt various means to maintain contact with the people's congress representatives at the same level, establish and improve the working mechanism for the members of the standing committees and the special committees and working bodies of the standing committees to contact representatives, expand the participation of representatives in various work such as legislation and supervision, and give full play to the role of representatives; clarify the relevant requirements for the chairmen and vice chairmen of the township people's congresses to contact representatives (Article 20 of the revised draft). Fourth, improve the system of "one government, one committee, and two courts" contacting representatives, and add provisions: people's governments at all levels and their subordinate departments, supervision committees, people's courts, and people's procuratorates can invite representatives to participate in relevant work and activities and listen to the opinions and suggestions of representatives according to the overall arrangements of the standing committees of the people's congresses at the same level (Article 22 of the revised draft). (III) Improve the relevant provisions on the capacity building of NPC deputies
Implement the requirements of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the capacity building of NPC deputies, link with relevant laws and decisions, and clarify the representative work institutions and their responsibilities. First, add provisions: the Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at all levels shall establish
representative work committees as the working institutions of the Standing Committees (Article 6 of the revised draft). Second, clarify the responsibilities of the representative work committees in forwarding deputies' inspection and research reports (Article 15 of the revised draft). Third, add provisions: the Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at or above the county level shall formulate annual representative work plans;
the annual representative work plan shall be adopted by the Chairman's Meeting or the Director's Meeting, reported to the NPC deputies at the same level, and announced to the public (Article 19 of the revised draft).
(IV) Improve the relevant provisions on the work of deputies during the meetings of the People's Congress at this level
The work of deputies during the meetings of the People's Congress at this level is a concentrated reflection of the performance of their duties. Combined with the actual practice of deputies performing their duties in accordance with the law during the congress in recent years, the relevant provisions are improved: First, the various preparations for deputies before the congress are further clarified, and it is clarified that before attending the people's congress at this level, deputies should listen to the opinions and suggestions of the people in various forms, carefully study the proposals and reports to be submitted to the congress for deliberation, and prepare for the performance of their duties as deputies during the meeting (Article 7 of the revised draft). Second, the requirements for strict meeting style and discipline are clarified, and the provisions are added: Deputies attending the people's congress at this level should abide by the meeting discipline and maintain a good meeting style (Article 7 of the revised draft). Third, based on practical practices, the provisions are added: before the meetings of the people's congresses at all levels are held, deputies shall form delegations according to the electoral units or according to actual needs (Article 8 of the revised draft). Fourth, in conjunction with the National People's Congress Rules of Procedure and other laws, the voting and voting system of deputies is improved, and it is clarified that if deputies express opposition to the determined candidates, they can choose another person; deputies can express approval, opposition, or abstention when participating in the voting of the people's congress at this level (Articles 9 and 10 of the revised draft). (V) Improve the relevant provisions on the activities of deputies during the recess of the People's Congress at the same level
The participation of deputies in activities during the recess of the Congress is an important way for deputies to perform their duties in accordance with the law. In combination with the practices in recent years, further standardize the activities of deputies during the recess of the Congress: First, improve the composition of the representative group, and clarify that deputies at all levels above the county level shall form representative groups "based on regions, fields, etc." (Article 11 of the revised draft). Second, implement the spirit of the Central People's Congress Work Conference, and add provisions based on practical practices: According to arrangements, deputies at all levels above the prefecture-level city can also conduct inspections and special research across the original election units within their administrative regions (Articles 13 and 14 of the revised draft). Third, on the basis of the existing requirements for deputies' inspections, add requirements for deputies' special research, and clarify that when deputies participate in special research activities, they can make suggestions, criticisms and opinions to relevant units, but do not directly deal with problems (Article 15 of the revised draft). Fourth, further expand the participation of deputies in the work of the Standing Committee and special committees, and add provisions: deputies to the People's Congress at or above the county level can be invited to participate in forums, discussion meetings, evaluation meetings, hearings, etc. organized by the Standing Committee of the People's Congress, special committees and working bodies of the Standing Committee (Article 16 of the revised draft). Fifth, it is clarified that county-level deputies can attend the township people's congress meetings where their original constituencies are located (Article 17 of the revised draft).
(VI) Improve relevant provisions on the protection of deputies in performing their duties
First, based on the opinions of the localities and in line with the relevant provisions of the Local Organization Law, it is clarified that deputies perform their duties in accordance with the law, and the state will provide round-trip travel expenses and necessary material conveniences or subsidies as needed (Article 18 of the revised draft). Second, add provisions: Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at or above the county level can use modern information technology to establish and improve a network platform for deputies to perform their duties, and provide convenience and services for deputies to perform their duties and strengthen their learning in performing their duties (Article 21 of the revised draft). Third, improve the content of deputies' learning on the performance of their duties, and add provisions: deputies learn and implement the theories, lines, principles and policies of the Communist Party of China, and be fully familiar with the Constitution and laws, basic knowledge and applied knowledge of deputies' performance of their duties, as well as knowledge in various aspects such as economy, politics, culture, society and ecological civilization construction; clarify that township people's congress deputies should participate in the deputies' learning on the performance of their duties organized by the superior people's congress standing committee and the township people's congress presidium (Article 23 of the revised draft).
Fourth, based on practical practices, add provisions: when physically disabled deputies perform their duties as deputies, relevant departments shall provide necessary assistance and care as needed (Article 27 of the revised draft). Fifth, strengthen the publicity work on deputies' performance of their duties, and add provisions: Standing Committees of People's Congresses at or above the county level can adopt various forms to publicize typical deeds of deputies performing their duties and playing their roles in accordance with the law, and show the vivid practice of deputies practicing the whole process of people's democracy (Article 28 of the revised draft).
(VII) Improve the mechanism for handling proposals and suggestions of deputies
Based on practical practices and in line with relevant legal provisions, ensure that deputies put forward proposals and suggestions in accordance with the law, improve the quality of handling proposals and suggestions, and better play the role of deputies: First, improve the mechanism for handling proposals of deputies, and add provisions: When deputies submit proposals to the People's Congress at the same level, the relevant special committees shall communicate with the deputies during the research and deliberation process, fully listen to their opinions, and promptly report the research and deliberation of the proposals (Article 24 of the revised draft). Second, improve the system for assigning, supervising and reporting the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies, and clarify that the suggestions, criticisms and opinions put forward by deputies on various aspects of work shall be assigned to relevant organs and organizations for research and handling by the representative working committee of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress at the same level or the presidium of the township people's congress. The handling of the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of deputies shall be reported by the representative working committee to the Standing Committee of the People's Congress at the same level and printed and distributed to the next meeting of the People's Congress; or by the presidium of the township people's congress to the township people's congress. The relevant special committees and representative working committees of the people's congresses at or above the county level shall strengthen the supervision and handling of the suggestions, criticisms and opinions of the representatives (Article 25 of the revised draft). Third, clarify the key supervision mechanism for the suggestions of representatives, and add provisions: The Standing Committees of the People's Congresses at or above the county level can determine the suggestions, criticisms and opinions for key supervision around economic and social development and major issues and matters related to the vital interests of the people and the general public, and major issues of public concern. The relevant special committees of the people's congress at the same level shall be responsible for supervision (Article 26 of the revised draft).
(VIII) Improve the relevant provisions on the supervision and management of the performance of duties by representatives. To strengthen the supervision and management of the performance of duties by representatives, first, clarify the political responsibilities of representatives, and add provisions: Representatives shall stand firm in their political stance, fulfill their political responsibilities, strengthen ideological and work style construction, consciously accept supervision, and consciously maintain the image of representatives (Article 29 of the revised draft). Second, improve the system of reporting on the performance of duties of deputies. On the basis of the current provisions that deputies directly elected by voters should report their performance of duties to voters in their original constituencies in various ways, add provisions that deputies elected indirectly should report their performance of duties to their original election units; clarify that the county-level people's congress standing committee and the township people's congress presidium should record the performance of deputies and publicize the basic information and performance information of deputies (Article 30 of the revised draft). Third, further clarify that deputies shall not use their representative duties to interfere with law enforcement or engage in commercial activities in disguise to seek personal interests (Article 31 of the revised draft). Fourth, based on actual practices, add the provision of "being ordered to resign" in the circumstances where the qualifications of deputies are terminated (Article 32 of the revised draft). (IX) Add relevant content to meet the needs of the reform of the supervision system According to the provisions of the Constitution and the Supervision Law, and in conjunction with the Organic Law of the National People's Congress and other relevant laws, the following supplements and improvements have been made to the relevant contents of the Supervision Commission: First, add the relevant expression of "director of the Supervision Commission" to the provisions on the participation of deputies to the People's Congress in the election and removal of leaders of state institutions (Articles 9 and 32 of the revised draft). Second, the relevant expression of "Supervision Committee" is added to the scope of objects to which deputies may raise inquiries in accordance with the law (Article 32 of the revised draft). Third, it is clarified that the Supervision Committee shall promptly inform deputies at the same level of the work situation, provide information and materials, and safeguard the deputies' right to know (Article 22 of the revised draft). In addition, some textual modifications have been made, and the order of individual articles has been adjusted. Explanation on the "Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft Amendment)" 1. Background and process of revision The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to arbitration. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly made important instructions on arbitration, emphasizing the need to build a foreign-related legal system and capabilities that are compatible with the requirements of high-quality development and high-level opening up, and to create favorable legal conditions and external environment for the steady and long-term development of Chinese-style modernization; actively develop foreign-related legal services and cultivate a group of world-class arbitration institutions. The leaders of the State Council have put forward requirements for improving the arbitration system and enhancing the credibility of arbitration. The current Arbitration Law has been implemented since 1995. As of the end of August 2024, 282 arbitration committees have been established nationwide in accordance with the law. The parties involved involve more than 100 countries and regions, and the disputes handled involve finance, e-commerce, construction engineering, maritime affairs, intellectual property and other fields, playing an important role in serving economic development and opening up to the outside world. At the same time, with the development of my country's socialist market economy and the expansion of its opening up to the outside world, arbitration work has exposed problems such as the lack of foreign-related systems, insufficient openness and tolerance, and an imperfect regulatory system. To promote the reform and development of arbitration in the new era, it is urgent to clarify the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee on arbitration work since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the effective practices in practice as legal systems, comprehensively revise the Arbitration Law, effectively enhance the credibility and international competitiveness of my country's arbitration, and better serve high-quality development and high-level opening up. The revision of the Arbitration Law has been included in the 2024 legislative work plan of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council respectively. In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, strengthen the construction of foreign-related rule of law, accelerate the improvement of the arbitration legal system that meets the needs of the new era and new journey, and create a market-oriented, rule-of-law, and international first-class business environment, according to the work arrangements, the Ministry of Justice, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, fulfilled the responsibility of organizing the drafting of important draft laws, took the lead and consulted with the Legal Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Supreme People's Court and other units to set up a special working group, focused on key issues, conducted in-depth research and demonstration, solicited opinions from relevant central units, local people's governments, and some arbitration institutions, enterprises, experts and scholars twice, solicited opinions from the public, revised the draft several times, and steadily promoted it. All parties have reached a consensus and formed a revised draft. The revised draft has been discussed and approved at the State Council Executive Meeting. II. Overall Idea and Main Contents
The draft amendment adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implements Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law, implements the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, especially the important arrangements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on deepening the reform of the arbitration system, improving the international commercial arbitration and mediation system, cultivating world-class arbitration institutions, and promoting the innovation of maritime arbitration system rules. It is based on improving and perfecting the arbitration legal system with Chinese characteristics and in line with international practices. It mainly grasps three points: First, it adheres to problem-oriented and goal-oriented, focuses on solving outstanding problems in the arbitration system and practice, and strives to improve the credibility and international competitiveness of arbitration. Second, it adheres to innovation, continues the current basic principles and systems of arbitration, connects with the United Nations Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration and other internationally accepted economic and trade rules, and focuses on improving the foreign-related arbitration system. Third, it adheres to the concept of system, takes into account the differences of various types of arbitration committees in my country, comprehensively considers the characteristics of different arbitration disputes, coordinates the practice process of arbitration work, and leaves institutional space for relevant reforms and innovations.
The draft amendment consists of 8 chapters and 91 articles, and mainly stipulates the following contents:
(I) Adhere to the leadership of the Party. It is clearly stipulated that arbitration work should adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, implement the Party and state lines, policies, decisions and arrangements, serve the national opening-up and development strategy, and play a role in resolving social contradictions and disputes. (Article 2) (II) Improve the foreign-related arbitration system. First, it will help high-level opening up to the outside world and broaden the scope of foreign-related arbitration cases. The current law "arbitration of disputes arising from foreign-related economic and trade, transportation and maritime affairs" will be revised to "arbitration of disputes with foreign-related factors" so that more cases can be subject to the "special provisions for foreign-related arbitration". (Article 75) Second, add a "special arbitration" system with Chinese characteristics to enhance the openness, inclusiveness and flexibility of China's foreign-related arbitration system. For two specific cases, namely disputes arising from foreign-related maritime affairs and foreign-related disputes between enterprises in the free trade pilot zone, it is clarified that in addition to the arbitration of the usually applicable arbitration committee, the parties can also choose to arbitrate in a domestic location, in accordance with the agreed arbitration rules, and by a special method of forming an arbitration tribunal composed of qualified personnel. (Article 79) Third, add a "place of arbitration" system to improve arbitration jurisdiction rules. The seat of arbitration is a country or region chosen by the parties to resolve disputes. It is an important basis for determining the applicable law of arbitration procedures, evidence rules, nationality of arbitration awards and jurisdiction of the court. The parties may agree on the seat of arbitration in writing, and encourage the parties to foreign-related arbitration to choose my country's arbitration commission and agree that my country will be the seat of arbitration for arbitration. (Articles 78 and 84) Fourth, support arbitration institutions to "go out" and "bring in" to serve the national opening-up and development strategy. Clearly support my country's arbitration commissions to set up business institutions abroad to carry out arbitration activities. At the same time, according to the needs of economic and social development and reform and opening up, allow foreign arbitration institutions to carry out foreign-related arbitration activities in the free trade pilot zones approved by the State Council in accordance with relevant national regulations. (Article 83) Fifth, support my country's arbitration commissions to participate in international investment arbitration. Clearly, arbitration commissions and arbitration tribunals can handle international investment arbitration cases in accordance with relevant international investment treaties and agreements and in accordance with the arbitration rules agreed upon by the disputing parties. (Article 89)
(III) Improve the credibility of arbitration. First, improve the internal governance and management system of arbitration commissions and give full play to the main role of arbitration commissions. Clarify the public welfare and non-profit legal person attributes of the arbitration committee, require it to establish and improve the internal governance structure and management systems in democratic deliberation, personnel management, complaint handling, etc., and strengthen supervision of its members, staff, and arbitrators on illegal and disciplinary violations. (Articles 12, 18) Second, improve the transparency of the arbitration committee and arbitrators to ensure that the parties properly select the arbitration committee and arbitrators. Establish an information disclosure and disclosure system, require the arbitration committee to promptly disclose to the public the articles of association, arbitration rules, arbitrator list, annual work report and other information, and require arbitrators to disclose information that may affect their independence and impartiality. (Articles 19, 42) Third, broaden the channels for the appointment of arbitrators and standardize the management of the selection and appointment of arbitrators. Add "having served as a prosecutor for eight years" and "professionals with scientific and technological knowledge" and "professionals engaged in legal work" to serve as arbitrators, regulate public officials serving as arbitrators, clarify that arbitrators (legal) should participate in unified pre-job training, and strengthen the obligation of the arbitration committee to dynamically review the qualifications for the appointment of arbitrators. (Article 20) Fourth, clarify the judicial administrative work responsibilities and strengthen the overall planning of arbitration. It is stipulated that the Ministry of Justice shall guide and supervise the national arbitration work in accordance with the law, improve the supervision and management system, and the judicial administrative departments of provincial people's governments shall guide and supervise the arbitration work in their administrative regions in accordance with the law, clarify the administrative penalty authority of the judicial administrative departments, and improve the registration procedures for the establishment, change and cancellation of arbitration committees. (Articles 13, 15, 16, and 23) Fifth, strengthen the good faith obligations of the subjects of arbitration activities and prevent false arbitration. Add the provisions that arbitration should follow the principle of good faith, and clarify that if the arbitration tribunal finds that the parties have maliciously colluded and violated the national interests, social public interests or the legitimate rights and interests of others through arbitration, it shall be rejected. (Articles 9 and 58)
(IV) Promote the innovation of arbitration practice with Chinese characteristics that is integrated with international common rules. First, summarize the arbitration practice experience in my country and clarify the legal effect of arbitration conducted through the Internet. It is stipulated that with the consent of the parties, arbitration activities can be conducted online through the information network platform and have the same legal effect as offline arbitration. (Article 11) Second, clarify the "self-jurisdiction" of the arbitration tribunal, shorten the time limit for applying for the annulment of the award, and give full play to the high efficiency of arbitration. It is stipulated that if a party has any objection to the validity of the arbitration agreement, it may request a ruling from the People's Court, or request a decision from the arbitration committee or the arbitration tribunal; if a party applies for the annulment of the award, it shall be made within three months from the date of receipt of the award. (Articles 28 and 69) Third, expand the recognition method of the arbitration agreement, increase the arbitration service system, and broaden the selection method of the chief arbitrator, and fully respect the autonomy of the parties. It is stipulated that if one party claims that there is an arbitration agreement and the other party does not deny it before the first hearing, the arbitration tribunal shall remind and record it, and it shall be deemed that there is an arbitration agreement; the arbitration documents shall be served in a reasonable manner agreed by the parties. If there is no agreement or the agreement is unclear, it shall be served in the manner prescribed by the arbitration rules; it is added that the parties may agree that the arbitrators selected by them shall jointly select the third arbitrator. (Articles 24, 38, and 40)
Explanation on the Maritime Code of the People's Republic of China (Draft Amendment)
I. Background and Process of Revision
The Maritime Code is an important foreign-related law that regulates and standardizes maritime transport relations and ship relations. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the construction of foreign-related rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made important instructions and instructions on many occasions, pointing out that the foreign-related legal system is an important part of the national legal system and the foundation of foreign-related rule of law; it is necessary to adhere to legislation first, and to establish, amend, abolish and interpret laws simultaneously to form a systematic and complete foreign-related legal system. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made arrangements for improving the foreign-related legal system. In the 2024 Government Work Report, Premier Li Qiang clearly proposed that we should actively connect with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand institutional opening-up, and enhance the linkage effect of the two markets and two resources at home and abroad.
Since its implementation on July 1, 1993, the current Maritime Code has played an important role in regulating and standardizing maritime transport relations and ship relations, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of all parties involved, and promoting the development of shipping and trade. With the development of the times, many new situations and new problems have emerged in maritime practice. The current Maritime Law can no longer fully meet the actual needs and urgently needs to be revised and improved: First, compared with the rapid development of shipping and trade, especially the changes in the scale, format, technology and other aspects of shipping and trade, some provisions of the current Maritime Law are lagging behind and the lack of relevant systems is becoming increasingly prominent. Second, the construction of marine ecological civilization is advancing in depth, and it is urgent to respond and provide guarantees from the institutional level. Third, international maritime legislation is constantly developing. As an important foreign-related law, the Maritime Law needs to be compatible with international common rules. Fourth, China's civil commercial legislation continues to improve, and the Maritime Law needs to be coordinated and connected with it. On the basis of summarizing the implementation experience, revising and improving the current Maritime Law is an important measure to implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and instructions on strengthening the construction of foreign-related rule of law and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. It is an objective requirement to promote the high-quality development of shipping and trade and help build a strong maritime country in the new era. The revision of the Maritime Law has been included in the 2024 legislative work plan of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council respectively. The Ministry of Justice, together with the Ministry of Transport and the Supreme People's Court, conducted in-depth investigations and research, solicited opinions from the public, and twice widely solicited opinions from relevant central units, local people's governments, maritime courts, relevant industry associations and chambers of commerce, as well as shipping, trade, ports, insurance and other related enterprises and research institutions, experts and scholars, and conducted research and demonstration on key issues. After repeated research and revision, a draft revision was formed. The draft revision has been discussed and approved at the State Council Executive Meeting. 2. Overall thinking of the revision The revision of the Maritime Code adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implements Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law, and fully implements the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on strengthening the construction of foreign-related rule of law. The following three points are mainly grasped: First, accurately grasp the institutional demands for the development of maritime practice, focus on solving prominent problems such as lagging rules and lack of systems, and enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of the revision. Second, based on the reality that my country is both a shipping power and a trading power, reasonably balance the power and responsibility allocation of relevant industry entities, and effectively stimulate endogenous motivation and vitality. Third, coordinate domestic and international affairs, improve the maritime legal system with Chinese characteristics and in line with international trends, and better adapt to the needs of high-level opening up to the outside world and smooth domestic and international dual circulation.
III. Main contents of the revision
The current Maritime Law has 15 chapters and 278 articles, and the draft revision has 16 chapters and 311 articles, which have made relatively comprehensive revisions to the current Maritime Law. The main revisions are as follows:
(I) Unify the applicable laws for domestic and international maritime cargo transportation. Article 2, paragraph 2 of the current Maritime Law stipulates: "The provisions of Chapter 4 of this Law on maritime cargo transportation contracts shall not apply to maritime cargo transportation between ports of the People's Republic of China." The main consideration at that time was that when the current Maritime Law was formulated, maritime cargo transportation between domestic ports was still subject to planned management in many aspects, and did not meet the conditions for applying the same rules as international maritime cargo transportation. With the development of the socialist market economy, the domestic maritime cargo transportation market has undergone great changes, and the conditions for unifying the applicable laws for domestic and international maritime cargo transportation have matured. The draft revision accordingly adjusts the scope of application of the current Maritime Code and deletes the provisions of Article 2, paragraph 2, in order to better coordinate the domestic and international markets and further promote the development of shipping and trade. At the same time, in order to solve the problems caused by the lack of targeted civil and commercial system rules on the development of the inland waterway cargo transportation industry and maritime trial practice, the draft revision stipulates that inland waterway cargo transportation shall refer to the relevant provisions of Chapter 4 of this Law on domestic maritime cargo transportation. (Article 309) (ii) Appropriately adjust the rights and obligations of the parties to maritime activities. In order to adapt to the actual needs of the development of shipping and trade under the new situation, reasonably allocate responsibilities and risks, and promote the formation of clearer and more stable market expectations, the draft revision appropriately adjusts the rights and obligations of the parties to maritime activities. First, appropriately strengthen the responsibilities of the carrier of maritime cargo transportation to better balance the interests of both parties; clarify that the actual consignor can require the carrier to issue a transport document, and the consignor can notify the carrier in writing to change the port of discharge; refine the rules and requirements for the carrier to deliver goods, etc. (Articles 48, 74, 88, and 97) Second, strengthen the protection of passenger rights and interests, appropriately increase the liability limit of passenger transport carriers for passenger personal injury and property damage, and unify the domestic and international passenger transport liability limits; stipulate that carriers shall carry out liability insurance for passenger personal injury and property damage, and clarify that claims for personal injury and property damage can be made directly to the liability insurer. (Articles 116, 126, and 127) Third, appropriately increase the liability limit of shipowners and maritime rescuers for relevant maritime claims. (Articles 220 and 221) Fourth, appropriately adjust the rights and obligations of the parties to the marine insurance contract, clarify the relevant rules for the insurer to refund the insurance premium when terminating the insurance contract, the insurer's obligation to explain and remind the standard terms of the insurance contract, and the obligation of the insured to truthfully report relevant matters to the insurer in the reservation insurance contract. (Articles 250, 251, 261)
(III) Providing institutional guarantees for the development of digital shipping. To meet the actual needs of electronic shipping documents,
with reference to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records and relevant international conventions,
a section on "Electronic Transport Records" (Section 5) is added to Chapter 4 "Contracts for the Carriage of Goods by Sea",
clarifying the legal status of electronic transport records, and stipulating that electronic transport records that meet the statutory conditions have the same effect as transport documents; carriers and consignors may issue and use electronic transport records by consensus;
electronic transport records shall meet the conditions that the content is complete and accurate, can be retrieved and used, the issuer can be identified, and the holder can prove his identity; electronic transport records and transport documents can be converted into each other.
(Articles 83 to 87)
(IV) Improving relevant systems for marine ecological environmental protection. According to the relevant international conventions to which my country has participated, a chapter on "Oil Pollution Damage Liability from Ships" (Chapter 12) has been added to clarify the scope of compensation for oil pollution damage from ships, and stipulate that the liability for compensation for oil pollution damage from ships shall be borne by the owner of the leaking ship. The state shall establish a compulsory ship oil pollution damage liability insurance system and a ship oil pollution damage compensation fund system (Articles 226 to 231); special sections have been set up to make specific provisions on the relevant matters of ship oil pollution damage liability and ship fuel pollution damage liability (Articles 233 to 241). At the same time, the captain's responsibilities in preventing and reducing marine environmental pollution have been clarified, and it is stipulated that the rescuer and the rescued party of maritime rescue shall not be exempted from their obligations to prevent or reduce environmental damage through contractual agreements. (Articles 37, 40, and 181) (V) Improve the relevant rules on the application of laws to foreign-related relations. First, it is clearly stipulated that international maritime cargo transportation contracts with loading ports or unloading ports located in my country shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 4 of this Law. (Article 297) Second, the applicable rules of some important foreign-related relations have been supplemented and improved, stipulating that the ownership and mortgage of ships under construction shall be subject to the laws of the country of registration if the ship has been registered, and the law of the place where the ship is built if the ship has not been registered; the lien of the ship shall be subject to the law of the place where the ship is lien; the liability for oil pollution damage from the ship shall be subject to the law of the place where the oil pollution damage results occur, etc. (Articles 298, 299, 301, 302, 304, 306) In addition, some other important amendments have been made to the current Maritime Law: First, in order to promote the development of my country's ship financing and leasing business, it clarifies the relevant matters of ship financing and leasing property rights registration and the guarantee function of leased ships for the realization of the lessor's claims. (Article 8) Second, fully reflect the autonomy of the parties and clarify that if the parties have an agreement on the ownership of the ship under construction, it shall be in accordance with their agreement (Article 10); adjust the provisions on voyage charter contracts from the "Maritime Cargo Transportation Contract" chapter to the "Charter Contract" chapter (Chapter 6), and clarify that the provisions of this chapter are only applicable when there is no agreement or no different agreement in the charter contract (Article 129). Third, adjust the definition of maritime passenger transportation contract accordingly to make it applicable to the new cruise transportation industry. (Article 106) Fourth, in order to improve my country's shipping insurance underwriting capacity and global service level, the insurance contract for ships under construction is included in the scope of application of this law (Article 247), and clarify the legal status and application of rules of membership mutual assistance organizations that play an important role in practice and have the nature of mutual insurance (Article 310). Fifth, improve the relevant rules on general average and clarify that the losses caused by the leakage of pollutants from ships, cargo or other property or the expenses paid shall not be included in general average. (Article 203) Sixth, improve the relevant provisions on the limitation period for maritime claims and better safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the parties. (Chapter 14) Explanation of the "Science and Technology Popularization Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft Amendment)" 1. Background and process of revision Science and technology popularization is an important basic work for achieving innovative development. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to science popularization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that scientific and technological innovation and science popularization are the two wings for achieving innovative development, and science popularization should be placed on the same level of importance as scientific and technological innovation. Premier Li Qiang made arrangements for strengthening science popularization. Comrade Ding Xuexiang put forward clear requirements. The current Science and Technology Popularization Law was promulgated and implemented in 2002, and has played an important role in promoting the popularization of science and technology, improving the scientific and cultural quality of citizens, and promoting innovative development. As my country enters a new development stage, my country's science popularization has flourished, but there is still a lack of awareness of the importance of science popularization, lack of initiative, insufficient supply of high-quality science popularization products and services, and the construction of a science popularization team. The construction of science and technology is lagging behind, and the infrastructure of science and technology is relatively weak. In 2022, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening the Popularization of Science and Technology in the New Era", which made arrangements for the development of science and technology in the new era. On June 24, 2024, the National Science and Technology Conference was held. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that we must persist in cultivating an innovative culture so that advocating science and pursuing innovation will become a trend in the whole society. In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council and solve the outstanding problems in the development of science and technology, it is necessary to revise the current Science and Technology Popularization Law. The revision of the Science and Technology Popularization Law has been included in the 2024 legislative work plan of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Council respectively. The Ministry of Science and Technology, together with relevant units, has drafted the "Draft Amendment to the Science and Technology Popularization Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft for Review)" after extensive research, soliciting opinions from relevant parties, and publicly soliciting opinions from the society, and submitted it to the State Council in September 2023. The Ministry of Justice has twice solicited opinions from relevant central departments, provincial people's governments, and some industry associations, societies, and scientific and technological institutions, and went to local areas for research. On this basis, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Science and Technology have repeatedly studied and revised the draft amendment, and have improved the draft amendment in accordance with the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the National Science and Technology Conference. The draft amendment has been discussed and approved by the State Council Executive Meeting.
2. Overall ideas and main contents
The draft amendment follows the following overall ideas: First, adhere to the Party's leadership over the cause of popular science, and implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on the development of popular science. Second, combine the reform and development of the field of popular science to elevate practical policies and mature practices into legal norms. Third, adapt to the new situation and new requirements facing popular science, focus on the outstanding problems in the development of popular science, optimize the innovation system, and improve the system mechanism.
The draft amendment adds two chapters, "Popular Science Activities" and "Popular Science Personnel", with a total of 8 chapters and 60 articles, and mainly stipulates the following contents:
(I) Clarify the overall requirements and target direction of popular science. First, it adds provisions to uphold the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China in the cause of popular science, and popular science should be carried out with the people at the center, facing the world's scientific and technological frontiers, the main battlefield of the economy, the major needs of the country, and the people's life and health, and cultivate and promote the culture of innovation. (Article 3) Second, it adds provisions that the state places popular science on an equal footing with scientific and technological innovation, and promotes the full integration of popular science into the construction of economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological civilization. (Articles 4 and 5) Third, it emphasizes that popular science work should practice the core socialist values, promote the scientific spirit and the spirit of scientists, and abide by the ethical norms of science and technology. (Article 6) Fourth, it clarifies that the state implements the National Science Quality Action to guide citizens to cultivate rational thinking, establish a scientific worldview and methodology, and improve their skills in labor, production, innovation and creation. (Article 11) (II) Strengthen the social responsibility of popular science. First, it specifies the responsibility of schools for popular science. It emphasizes that schools at all levels and types should strengthen scientific education and improve the scientific and cultural quality of teachers and students. (Article 19) Second, it strengthens the responsibility of scientific research institutions for popular science. It is emphasized that scientific research institutions should make popular science an important part of their operation and provide necessary support and guarantee for the popular science activities. (Article 21) Third, strengthen the popular science responsibility of enterprises and social groups. It is emphasized that enterprises should take popular science as an important part of fulfilling their social responsibilities and encourage enterprises to open laboratories, production lines and other scientific research and production facilities to the public; various natural science and social science social groups should organize popular science activities in professional fields. (Articles 22 and 23)
(III) Promote popular science activities. First, support popular science creation and develop popular science industries. It is clarified that the state supports the research and development of popular science products and services, encourages the creation of high-quality popular science works, promotes the marketization of popular science public services, encourages the establishment of popular science enterprises, and promotes the integration and development of popular science with culture, tourism and other industries. (Articles 28 and 29) Second, strengthen popular science in key areas. It is clarified that the state promotes the dissemination and promotion of new technologies and new knowledge; deploys and implements major scientific and technological tasks in the field of cutting-edge technology, and should organize targeted popular science; strengthen popular science work in the prevention, rescue and emergency response of emergencies, and improve the emergency popular science response mechanism. (Articles 30 to 32) Third, strengthen the review and monitoring of popular science information. Require organizations and individuals that provide popular science products and services and publish popular science information to be responsible for the legality and scientific nature of popular science content. Various Internet communication platforms shall establish and improve the scientific review mechanism for publishing popular science information. The state shall strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of the release and dissemination of popular science information, and take timely measures against pseudo-science, anti-science and other information. (Articles 34 and 35) Fourth, strengthen the evaluation of popular science work.
It is stipulated that the state shall improve the evaluation system of popular science work and the monitoring and evaluation system of citizens' scientific literacy, carry out popular science surveys and statistics and citizens' scientific literacy assessments, and monitor and evaluate the development results of popular science. (Article 37)
(IV) Strengthen the construction of the popular science team. First, it is stipulated to strengthen the capacity training and exchanges of popular science staff, establish a professional popular science staff team; improve the popular science volunteer service system and work system, and support volunteers to carry out popular science volunteer services. (Article 38, Article 41) Second, it is clear that colleges and vocational schools with conditions should be supported to set up and improve science popularization related disciplines and majors, and cultivate science popularization professionals. (Article 40) Third, it emphasizes the improvement of the evaluation and incentive mechanism for science popularization personnel, and encourages relevant units to establish evaluation systems such as professional title evaluation and performance appraisal that are in line with the characteristics of science popularization. (Article 42) (V) Strengthen guarantee measures. First, strengthen the construction of science popularization venues. Add provisions that the state improves the layout of science popularization venues and bases, and expands the coverage of science popularization facilities; governments at all levels should support the construction of science popularization venues that meet the plan. (Article 44, Article 45) Second, promote the sharing of science popularization resources. Emphasize that the state builds a national science popularization resource library and a public service platform for science popularization resources that are open and shared, and promote the co-construction and sharing of science popularization resources throughout society. (Article 46) Third, improve the evaluation incentive mechanism. It requires the competent departments of scientific research institutions, enterprises, schools, and relevant administrative departments such as science and technology to establish evaluation standards and institutional mechanisms that are conducive to promoting popular science; and encourage social forces to establish popular science awards.
(Articles 51 and 53)
In addition, the draft revision improves relevant legal responsibilities.
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