Death penalty shall be strictly controlled and prudently applied, said the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009-2010) released Monday by the Information Office of China's State Council.

If a criminal sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve commits no intentional offense during the suspension period of the sentence, he or she will not be executed at the end of such suspension period, and his or her punishment will be commuted in accordance with the law, said the plan.

According to the plan, China implements stringent judicial procedures for death sentences, and improves such procedures for review.

Apart from the death sentences given by the Supreme People's Court in accordance with the law, all death sentences must be reported to the Supreme People's Court for review and approval, it said.

The People's Procuratorate shall tighten its supervision over death penalty cases in accordance with the law, according to the plan.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2009)