Fu Ying, spokesperson for the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), answers questions during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. The fourth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open on Saturday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Philanthropy is developing fast in China and the nation aims to standardize it through a charity law, a spokeswoman for the annual session of the country's top legislature said Friday.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference a day ahead of the Fourth Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), Fu Ying said that the importance of charity law cannot be underestimated.

China has a tradition of helping the poor and needy, Fu said, citing that the amount of donation by social entities and individuals in 2014 reached 100 billion yuan ($15 billion), a big rise from the 10 billion yuan seen in 2004.

With the fast development of philanthropy, China is in an urgent need of a charity law that can protect the rights of donors and the needy, and punish fraud.

Related: NPC's first spokeswoman shares her experience