The members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the draft amendments to the Constitution in Beijing Saturday.

The amendments will be handed over to the second annual session of the NPC in March next year.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the revision of the Constitution is a top issue for the nation, and it is in line with China's situation and keeping pace with the times to add important understandings and experiences into the Constitution.

On the same day, the top legislature approved three laws governing the country's banking industry, namely the Law on the Supervision of Banks, the amended Law on the People's Bank of China, and the amended Law on Commercial Banks.

Later, President Hu Jintao signed three presidential decrees to enact the three new laws.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2003)