China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) has abolished 381 regulations which were considered outdated following the country's entry into the World Trade Organization.

MOFTEC Vice-Minister Long Yongtu said at the National Working Conference on Foreign Trade Laws and Regulations which began Thursday that the examination of relevant laws and regulations has accelerated since the WTO entry.

The scrutinizing began as early as late 1999, and the work has resulted in the abolishment of 381 regulations as well as another 178 "internal documents."

153 Regulations and Documents to Be Invalidated

However, there are still 53 regulations and documents to be invalidated following the approval of related government departments. A total of 450 laws and regulations will remain valid, Long said.

"MOFTEC will try to complete the examination work by the end of June this year," Long told about 100 officials from central and local governments at the meeting.

The priority of examining foreign trade and foreign investment-related laws and regulations this year will be at the provincial level, Long said.

The examination of laws and regulations has involved 25 ministerial departments of the State Council and China's provincial localities. More than 1,150 laws and regulations will have to be examined.

China's supreme legislative body, the National People's Congress (NPC), has completed the revision of seven major laws concerning foreign trade and investment in China.

In the coming three years, the NPC will make revisions to laws concerning import and export commodities inspection, foreign trade and insurance, among others, said a senior legislator of the NPC.

(People's Daily March 29, 2002)