BEIJING, April 25 -- Chinese lawmakers on Monday started to deliberate on a draft of a new law on national defense transport, covering the use of railways, waterways and air transport for defense purposes.

The new law is expected to regulate the planning, construction, management and use of resources in transportation sectors such as railways, roads, waterways, aviation, pipelines and mail services for national defense, according to the draft submitted to the bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from Monday to Thursday.

Drafters followed a concept of integrating military and civilian resources and stressed that national defense transport and construction should be compatible with the market and economic development, said Zhao Keshi, head of the Logistical Support Department of the Central Military Commission, to the top legislature.