Legal advisers in Shanghai are calling on local lawmakers to quickly approve legislation governing the municipality's free trade zone to ensure the rule of law and hasten economic growth.

The Shanghai Research Commission of Rule of Law ranks establishing regulations for the free trade zone the city's top economic legislative priority, and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences said the zone is one of four projects that need legislation urgently.

Researchers from the commission and the academy made this case in a meeting with the Shanghai People's Congress Standing Committee on Wednesday.