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by Naim Ul Karim
DHAKA, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi lawyers Thursday warmly lauded the Chinese government's initiative to adopt a civil code, saying it will promote China's international image.
China's national lawmakers on Wednesday started to deliberate draft general provisions of a civil law, which, if adopted, will bring the country one step closer to a long-absent civil code.
With the draft submitted to the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, the country is nearing the end of its crucial first step toward a civil code -- laying down basic principles.
Am Mahbub Uddin Khokon, general secretary of Bangladesh's Supreme Court Bar Association, said the Chinese government's move to enact a new civil law will help ensure the interests of the general public.
"I understand that the law, if adopted, will surely better protect the people's interests, improve state governance, maintain market order, ensure trading security, and promote the sound development of the socialist market economy," he said.
The law expert also said the world's impression of China will also be enhanced with the enactment of the law aimed at protecting the people's interests.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's drives to ensure clean governance and promote the people's welfare have already drawn wide attention from the international community, Khokon added.
Xi's development-boosting plans like the Belt and Road Initiative have now connected China with the outside world more than any other time in the past, he noted.
Last year, the draft civil law went through three readings at the bi-monthly sessions of the NPC Standing Committee.
After the adoption of the general provisions, lawmakers will step up the work on compiling individual books on property, contracts and marriage, among others, which will be integrated into a unified code.
According to the legislation plan, the code will be enacted in 2020.
For his part, Bangladeshi Supreme Court's lawyer advocate Al Mamun said China's emergence as a global economic powerhouse has made it necessary to draft a civil code to ensure the rule of law and human rights.
He said that the move will push China forward in its efforts to achieve an effective administration of justice, and secure the people's interests and the smooth functioning of the government.
"I think that the enactment by the legislatures is an endeavor to demonstrate the long-standing commitment of China to establishing a fair society by having the rule of law," he noted.
"I strongly believe such an attempt will give a very positive message to the rest of the world," Al Mamun added.
