Chinese lawmakers on Friday voted to adopt a foreign state immunity law as part of the country's efforts to step up legislation in fields related to foreign affairs.
The law, passed at a session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
The law has 23 provisions and stipulates that China will move away from the absolute theory of foreign state immunity and adopt the restrictive theory of foreign state immunity.
Calling the move a "necessary adjustment" to China's sovereign immunity policy, an official of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee told Xinhua that the new law will help protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons, and safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests.
