Nayim Yassen, Director of the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang Regional People's Congress, said on the  sidelines of the annual session of the local people's congress in Urumqi, that lawmakers in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will begin to draft a regulation against religious extremism this year. It will be China's first legislation targeting religious extremism. He said: "Drafting local regulations on anti-terrorism and eliminating religious extremism are the main focus of this year's legislative work, which will provide solid legal support for Xinjiang to combat terrorism and religious extremism."  Nayim Yassen added that Xinjiang lawmakers began to research the drafting of a regulation against religious extremism last year and have made "significant progress".