China's top legislator Wu Bangguo has delivered his work report at the Great Hall of the People. Lawmakers reviewed past year's work and looked to the challenges ahead.

2011 was a busy year for China's lawmakers. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deliberated on 24 bills, legal interpretations and draft decisions. Fourteen were passed and 4 have been presented for deliberation at the current session.

The highlight is the Draft Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law. Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo said it's a considerable supplement to the legal system, in the areas of evidence, defense, coercive measures, trial procedure, and executing judgments.

Wu said, "Members agree that the draft follows the central leadership's guidelines on deepening the reform of judicial system, draws upon years of practical judicial experience, incorporates relevant views of deputies, properly balances punishing crime and protecting human rights, accords with China's national conditions and is basically complete."

Other laws being amended deal with Personal Income Tax, the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases, and Administrative Enforcement.

For the first time, the Standing Committee approved articles of the Basic Law for the Court of Final Appeals of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In terms of enforcing the law, the Standing Committee has improved oversight over implementation.

In the past year, deputies made over 8000 suggestions, which were referred to 177 organizations for study and handling. Nearly 80 percent of the problems have been solved, and the rest are in the process.

Wu Bangguo laid out the general work plan for 2012.

"First, we need to strengthen the coordination of legislative work, and draw up the legislative agenda; Second, we will conduct inspections so as to make the revision of law more targeted and more practical; And third, we will continue to solicit public opinion on draft laws to make the legislation more scientific," said Wu.

In the coming year, the Standing Committee will continue to make the legal system correspond with economic growth.

China has improved its legal system over the past year. Revisions have become more targeted and practical. The aim is to create a society where people respect, abide by and apply the law, and where enforcement of the law is effective.