The Chinese top legislature decided in Beijing Wednesday to submit the draft law against secession to the third session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) to be held next March.
The decision was adopted unanimously at the closing meeting of the 13th session of the NPC Standing Committee held from Dec.25 to 29, which deliberated the draft law for the first time, among others.
The NPC Standing Committee is entitled to approve draft laws except some draft laws of great importance that need the approval of the NPC full session.
According to the agenda for the NPC full session adopted the NPC Standing Committee, the third session of the 10th National People's Congress will begin on March 5 next year. The session will then deliberate and is most likely to approve the law.
The meeting will discuss a request by Jiang Zemin to resign from the post of chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and will elect a new chairman.
Jiang, 78, has asked for permission to resign at the meeting, Xinhua said.
Jiang stepped down from the position as chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China in September. President Hu Jintao took over the post.
