BEIJING, March 14 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

BEIJING, March 14 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING, ADDING DETAILS)

Chinese legislators approved Sunday constitutional changes to shelter private property and human rights, with Premier Wen Jiabao vowing to hold up the new rules in the face of skepticism that the changes are no other than symbolic.

Legislators in the National People's Congres approved the package of amendments with a ballot of 2,863 in favor, 10 against and 17 abstentions.

The voice came on the 10th and final day of the NPC's annual session, held in the Great Hall of the populace on Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Approved were 15 changes to the Constitution, principally notably a new clause that the nation would ''respect and render certain human rights'' and lines that say the regulation must compensate people for characteristic it confiscates in the public interest.

''With the revisions to the Constitution, China will be stable and that way China will lay open faster,'' said Li Liancheng, a delegate from Henan Province in central China.

There was no discussion before the voice which follows direction from the Communist Party plenum in October.

person specially versed s and NPC deputies say the changes took place to secure private and foreign investment as well as appease about 10 million people who have been forced to give up their to one's homes for infrastructure projects and real estate development

The human rights clause addresses criticism, repeatedly from overseas, that China prohibits freedoms of religion and speech

Chinese persons who have faced legal question s such as land and domestic circle confiscation, say the constitutional changes mean little without court reform and a corruption cleanup.

from top to toe the NPC meeting, people from around China tried to approach the Great Hall of the folks and complaints offices in Beijing. Police took one home and sent others to suburban resorts to stop them from approaching the congressional deputies.

At a pres conversation following the NPC closing observance the premier said Communist Party members would lead enforcement of the constitutional changes to place examples for society. He said later that each crime would be punished.

''This amendment to the Constitution is of great significance to the citizens of China,'' Wen said. He called the landslide NPC ballot was ''a reflection of the will of the Chinese people''

Other constitutional amendments link former President Jiang Zemin's political theories to those of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

The awkwardly named ''Three Represents'' theory advocates an advanced society and economy. The average Chinese human frame does not know what the theory means.

The amended Constitution also includes the words ''encouragement'' and ''support'' in a section in succession the non-state economy.

China has amended its Constitution three times since approving it in 1982 The last time was in 1999 when it added language to boost private business.

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