China plans to revise the oath of allegiance to the Constitution taken by people in public office to include adjectives of a "great" and "modern" socialist country being envisaged by President Xi Jinping.
The draft revision was submitted to a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, for review today.
China introduced oaths for officials in January 2016, based on a legislative decision passed in 2015.
About amendments to the oath of allegiance, Zhang Yong, vice chair of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee said while most parts of the oath remain unchanged, the last phrase is to be changed into "to work for a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful," according to the draft.
Zhang said the change was made to align the oath with the development goal envisioned by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) at its 19th National Congress last October, which had endorsed a second term for Xi who also heads the party and the military.
Xi is firming up the one-party rule of the CPC, which has ruled the country since 1949 with an extensive reform process which included massive anti-graft campaign since 2013 during which thousands of party officials have been prosecuted.
The amendment was expected to be taken by NPC.
The full annual session of the NPC, often described as rubber stamp Parliament for its routine endorsement of the CPC, will begin its annual session from March 5, it was officially announced.
This will be first session of NPC after Xi began his second term.
State-run Xinhua news agency announced that a total of 2,980 deputies have been elected to the the 13th NPC. They are awaiting final confirmation.
A report on the qualifications of the new NPC deputies, elected from 35 electoral units across the country, was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for confirmation.
NPC along with the advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is mostly comprised of nominated members, hold their annual sessions once a year.
The rest of year, NPC conducts its sessions through a Standing Committee with limited number of deputies. The bill also includes revisions to cater to the ongoing reform of supervisory system.
Briefing the lawmakers, Zhang said senior members of supervisory commissions at all local levels and those of a upcoming national supervisory commission should be required to take the oath upon assuming office.
All oath takers should also be required to sing the national anthem, Zhang said.
China's Constitution was adopted on December 4, 1982. It is expected to be amended for the fifth time next month.
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