China's top legislature started its bimonthly session Tuesday morning, with the focus on a draft amendment to the electoral law.

The draft amendment to the law will undergo its first reading at the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, which was scheduled from October 27 to 31.

The session will also deliberate a draft law on protection of oil and natural gas pipelines for the first time.

Presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, the session will continue to review draft laws on island protection, which had it first reading in June and aims to ensure the ecological protection of the country's islands.

Draft laws on tort liability, and diplomatic agents, as well as the draft amendment to the Law on State Compensation, will also be considered, according to the agenda.

Taken as another important law after the passing of the Property Law in 2007, the draft law on tort liability aims to provide legal guarantee for infringement cases concerning death compensation.

Also at the session, lawmakers will examine a report of the State Council, the Cabinet, on major public projects with government investment, and two reports from the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Lawmakers will also hear a report presented by the NPC Standing Committee on the inspection of major public projects, a report on the enforcement of Trade Union Law and a report on NPC Standing Committee chairman Wu Bangguo's visit to the United States, Cuba and the Bahamas.

A pact on civil and commercial judicial assistance between China and Brazil is due to be ratified during the session.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2009)