Beijing is considering drafting a land border law, according to National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee vice-chairman Ji Peiding, amid unresolved disputes with neighbouring nations.
Mr Ji made the remarks in a talk at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing on Wednesday.
'The NPC is considering the drafting of a law relating to the border,' he told teachers and students.
Mr Ji did not provide additional details, but speaking afterwards to the China Youth Daily, said the law would also cover disputed borders with India, Vietnam and Russia. The mainland's border extends over 22,000km and touches 14 countries. Beijing was criticised for surrendering more than it should have when it resolved a border dispute with Russia in the late 1990s.
During the NPC and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference meetings in March 2002, 96 delegates submitted a joint proposal for a land border law.
Without it, the proposal said, Beijing was at a disadvantage when trying to resolve sudden disputes and diplomatic rows. It also made cracking down on cross-border crimes more difficult.
