Full coverage: 2017 NPC & CPPCC Sessions

(Source: CGTN)

A draft of rules outlining the nation's new civil code has been adopted by China's top legislators. It is a collection of laws that defines the people's legal rights and obligations. The government will implement the code as soon as legislation is complete.

Chinese citizens are on their way to getting a civil code. The draft is the first step towards adopting a national civil code.

"The general principles of the civil law emphasize equality and justice, reflecting and guiding our Chinese national spirit, social core value and morality. The principles meet the needs of the market system. The priorities for improving the legal system in modern times is to protect people's civil rights, including individuals' freedom and dignity," said Xu Xianming, NPC Standing Committee.

According to the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, the whole civil code will be adopted in 2020.

Legislators say the drafting process is an important part of modernizing state governance and safeguarding people's interests.

"The babies in their mothers' embryos will be guaranteed the rights as human beings. And we will lower the age of children with limited capacity for civil affairs from 10 to 6 years old," said Zhu Shanping, NPC deputy.

"The changes reflect the times -- the development of technology and economy, children maturing earlier than before. This is a necessary change to ensure that children are obligated to support their parents and take care of family members."

Legislators also deliberate revisions to the civil rights system, which aims to better protect personal rights, intellectual property rights and legal rights of nonprofit corporation.