Top legislator Zhang Dejiang called on authorities to pool their wisdom and uphold democracy in the making of the general rules of the civil code.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks during a trip to the southwestern province of Sichuan from Monday to Wednesday.

The top legislator said the legislation should be of high quality since the general rules will play a leading role in the civil code, which, as an important and basic law of the socialist legal system, is closely linked to people's immediate interests.

Further polishing and improvement is still needed, though the draft of the general rules was deliberated twice by the top legislature.

One of the major objectives of the general rules is protection of property rights, he said, stressing that obligations should be undertaken accordingly.

He urged authorities to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights with more powerful provisions.

At a seminar held in provincial capital Chengdu, Zhang stressed that while making the general rules, the essence and principles of the Constitution must be reflected.

The rules should be an improvement on existing laws and the relationship between civil law and other legal entities should be appropriately handled, Zhang said.