BEIJING - Chinese lawmakers are considering a draft law revision that is expected to promote universal access to science and technology knowledge.

The draft revision to the Science and Technology Popularization Law was submitted to an ongoing session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, scheduled from Monday to Friday, for the first reading.

READ MORE: Xi calls on sci-tech workers to support science popularization

The draft, which contains 60 articles in eight chapters, addresses prominent issues in science popularization and specifies refining the system for innovation.

It includes provisions on the general requirements, direction of science popularization and the promotion of science popularization activities, among others.

READ MORE: Shenzhen sci-tech park enhances innovation ties in GBA

This is the first revision of the law since it was enacted in 2002.

Maritime law revision

Separately, China aims to improve protection of the rights and interests of maritime passengers through a draft law revision.

The draft revision to the maritime law has been submitted to an ongoing session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, scheduled from Monday to Friday, for deliberation.

The draft, containing 311 articles in 16 chapters, stipulates better protection of passenger rights by properly increasing the transport carriers' liability limits for personal injury and property damage compensation to passengers, and by unifying the liability limits for compensation in domestic and international maritime passenger transportation.

It also makes proper adjustments to the rights and obligations of parties involved in maritime activities.

China's maritime law came into force in 1993.