China’s Top Legislature Advances Four Major Laws in One Session
China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee convened its 23rd session in Beijing on June 23, 2026, launching simultaneous deliberations on four major legislative initiatives that span economic integration, ethnic policy, financial regulation, and legal profession reform. The session, running through June 26, marks one of the most consequential legislative sittings of the year as China’s top lawmakers tackle structural reforms across multiple domains.
Unified National Market: ‘Four Beams and Eight Pillars’ Framework Established
The State Council submitted a progress report on building a unified national market, with a representative from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) telling lawmakers that the structural framework — described as the “four beams and eight pillars” — has been “basically established,” according to Xinhua News.
The report detailed measurable progress across several fronts. The market access negative list has been reduced from 117 items in the 2022 edition to 106 items in the 2025 edition. Port container rail-water intermodal transport grew approximately 15 percent annually during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. In 2025 alone, authorities rectified 57,000 cases of enterprise-related administrative enforcement issues nationwide, while more than 330 measures for standardizing administrative enforcement standards were issued across the country.
On market openness, cross-province taxable business entities grew 8 percent in 2025, and new foreign-invested enterprises increased 19.1 percent over the same period. The NDRC indicated that next steps include deepening institutional building, advancing high-standard connectivity of market facilities, and eliminating deep-seated problems that persist despite the progress.
Ethnic Unity Law: Historic Legislation with First Preamble in Decades
A separate legislative milestone came with the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, which takes effect on July 1, 2026. At a State Council Information Office press conference on June 24, officials highlighted that this is the first law in over 30 years to include a preamble, underscoring its political and principled nature, as Xinhua reported.
The law, passed by more than 2,700 NPC deputies on March 12, 2026, is described as a “basic law” for implementing constitutional provisions on ethnic affairs. It codifies Xi Jinping’s “Important Thought on Strengthening and Improving Ethnic Work” and centers on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. The law’s seven chapters cover shared spiritual homeland building, inter-ethnic exchange and interaction, common prosperity, and legal responsibilities.
According to the NPC Legislative Affairs Commission, the law is designed to handle ethnic affairs and guide ethnic work in the new era. Its passage follows a legislative process that began in 2023, with the draft reviewed by the CPC Central Committee Politburo in August 2025 before two rounds of NPC Standing Committee review.
PBOC Law Revision: Strengthening Macro-Prudential Oversight
PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng presented a draft revision to the People’s Bank of China Law to the session, proposing the most significant update to the central bank’s legal framework since 2004. The revision draft, comprising 8 chapters and 54 articles, aims to fill a legal gap by establishing a macro-prudential policy framework in law, as Xinhua reported.
Key provisions include defining the legal status of the digital yuan (e-CNY), strengthening the PBOC’s regulatory role over money markets, bill markets, and financial infrastructure, and authorizing counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical adjustment measures. The draft also introduces stricter penalties for violations, adds extraterritorial application clauses, and expands the PBOC’s inspection and supervision powers.
Legal Daily reported that the revision draft balances three core principles: implementing the spirit of the Central Financial Work Conference, balancing development and security, and strengthening legal and regulatory coordination with other financial laws, including the pending Financial Stability Law.
Lawyers Law Amendments: GBA Integration and Professional Reform
Draft amendments to the Lawyers Law were also submitted for first reading, with provisions addressing Party leadership over lawyer work, foreign-related legal services, and the permanent codification of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) lawyer pilot program, according to Xinhua.
The GBA pilot, first authorized in 2020 and extended to October 4, 2026, allows eligible Hong Kong and Macau lawyers to practice mainland law within the Greater Bay Area. The amendment would make this arrangement permanent, providing regulatory certainty for cross-border legal services. Nearly 500 lawyers have already obtained GBA practice certificates under the pilot.
NPC Observer noted that because the bill is styled as an “amendment” rather than a comprehensive “revision,” its scope is likely limited. The amendment may receive a second review in August before the pilot expires on October 5, 2026. Additional provisions cover Party building in law firms, full coverage of criminal case defense by lawyers, and encouragement of pro bono public-interest legal services.
Analysis and Implications
The simultaneous advancement of these four legislative items reflects the breadth of China’s current legislative agenda under the 14th NPC Standing Committee, elected in March 2023. Chairman Zhao Leji has overseen an ambitious schedule focused on implementing CPC policy priorities through legislation.
The unified market report signals progress in reducing internal trade barriers, though the 57,000 cases of rectified enforcement issues suggest persistent local protectionism. The PBOC Law revision represents a significant upgrade to financial regulatory architecture, while the inclusion of extraterritorial application clauses signals preparation for potential financial sanctions. The Ethnic Unity Law’s focus on “community of the Chinese nation” marks a shift from previous emphasis on ethnic diversity toward integration, a development likely to draw international attention.
What to Watch For
The session is expected to conclude on June 26, with the Trademarks Law and Certified Public Accountants Law anticipated to pass. The PBOC Law revision and Lawyers Law amendment will likely require further readings, with the Lawyers Law facing an October deadline tied to the GBA pilot expiration. The Financial Stability Law, which coordinates with the PBOC revision, remains pending in the legislative pipeline.