A draft law on supporting veterans is expected to be submitted to the top legislature for reading in the second half of this year, Sun Shaocheng, China's minister of veterans affairs, said on Sunday afternoon.

The making of the draft law began in April 2018 and opinions and suggestions from various government departments and military units have been solicited. If everything goes well, it will be delivered to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for review in the latter half of the year, he said.

Sun said the legislation for a total of 11 laws and regulations, as well as 17 policies that concern veteran affairs, has started or will soon start.

He said that since the founding of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs in March 2018, it has been prioritizing drafting laws and regulations.

Sun said the establishment of veterans affairs departments at city and county levels will be finished by the end of this month. He also said that the nation is building a vast veterans service network that will cover every village and community. The network is expected to be formed by May, he said.

The minister made the remarks as he spoke to reporters after the opening of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the nation's top political advisory body.

Sun previously said that more than 530,000 personnel retired from the armed forces in 2018.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 57 million military personnel have re-entered civilian life, according to the ministry.

The Ministry of Veterans Affairs set up a National Veterans Service Center in Beijing in late February. The center is tasked with supporting and assisting veterans' employment and businesses, helping retirees and their families in need, surveying and visiting veterans, handling veterans' complaints and petitions, and safeguarding their interests and rights.