全国人大周六通过一项决定，在18城市开展刑事案件认罪认罚从宽制度试点。请看本报昨日的报道：

    China’s legislature Saturday approved plea bargaining in criminal cases to find a balance in the criminal justice system.

    At the closing meeting of the legislative session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, a proposal to allow suspects and defendants to plead guilty in return for a lesser charge was approved.

    The measures will be piloted in 18 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

    报道中的plea bargaining就是“辩诉交易”，指在法院开庭审理之前，作为控诉方的检察官和代表被告人的辩护律师进行协商，以检察官撤销指控、降格指控或者要求法官从轻判处刑罚为条件，来换取被告人的有罪答辩，进而双方达成均可接受的协议。例如：

    Plea bargaining originated in America in the 19th century.

    辩诉交易产生于十九世纪的美国。