中文

Speakers:

Mr. Yin Bai, deputy secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) 

Ms. He Rong, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Supreme People' s Court (SPC), executive vice president of the SPC, and a grand justice of the first rank

Mr. Tong Jianming, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), first deputy prosecutor general of the SPP, and a grand prosecutor of the first rank

Mr. Xu Ganlu, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), vice minister of public security, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the National Immigration Administration (NIA), and administrator of the NIA

Ms. Zuo Li, member of the Leading Party Members Group of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and vice minister of justice

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, head of the International Press Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee

Date:

Oct. 19, 2022

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to the third press conference held by the Press Center for the 20th CPC National Congress. Today, we have invited five delegates to brief you on following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and advancing the rule of law in China to a higher level. They will also take your questions.

The five delegates are Mr. Yin Bai, deputy secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee; Ms. He Rong, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), executive vice president of the SPC, and a grand justice of the first rank; Mr. Tong Jianming, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), first deputy prosecutor general of the SPP, and a grand prosecutor of the first rank; Mr. Xu Ganlu, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), vice minister of public security, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the National Immigration Administration (NIA), and administrator of the NIA; and Ms. Zuo Li, member of the Leading Party Members Group of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and vice minister of justice.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Yin Bai for his introduction.

Yin Bai:

Friends from the media, good morning. I'm very glad to talk with you. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress made major decisions and arrangements on following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to advance the rule of law in China, which pointed out a clear direction for exercising law-based governance on all fronts and establishing China as a socialist country under the rule of law in the new era.

General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned the "rule of law" or "law-based governance" 23 times in the report delivered at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress, reflecting the great importance the Party Central Committee attaches to building the rule of law. Here I will brief you on three aspects.

First, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has made an original contribution to the development of Marxist theory on the rule of law.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, as a Marxist statesman, thinker and strategist, General Secretary Xi Jinping has focused on the comprehensive advancement of law-based governance and proposed a series of creative, strategic and practical ideas and guiding strategies on the rule of law based on his knowledge of the finest legal traditions both at home and abroad, leading to the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. This is the most important achievement in building the rule of law in China since the 18th CPC National Congress. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is the most comprehensive, systematic and science-based set of ideas on the rule of law put forward by our Party in the past century. It is the most original Marxist theory on the rule of law in contemporary China and for the 21st century. It is, therefore, of great significance in building socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

We can understand the great significance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law from political, theoretical, practical and historical perspectives. The political significance lies in the sound guidance it provides for advancing law-based governance on all fronts in the new era. The theoretical significance lies in the historic advance it represents in adapting Marxist theory on the rule of law to the Chinese context and the needs of our times. The practical significance lies in the historic changes and progress it heralds in advancing law-based governance on all fronts in the new era. And the historical significance lies in the creative transformation and development of China's traditional legal culture.

Second, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has opened new ground for advancing the rule of law in China .

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, we have made five major achievements in building the rule of law in China.

First, efforts have been stepped up to establish China as a socialist country under the rule of law. For the first time, a plenary session of the CPC Central Committee has been held to study and make arrangements on exercising law-based governance on all fronts. The Commission for Law-Based Governance under the CPC Central Committee is now in place, and the first central conference on work related to law-based governance has been held. Sound legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice and society-wide observance of the law have injected strong impetus into establishing China as a socialist country under the rule of law.

Second, a comprehensive framework for law-based governance has taken shape . We have formulated the plan for promoting the rule of law in the country, the outline for building a government based on the rule of law and the outline for building a society based on the rule of law . We have pursued coordinated progress in law-based governance, law-based exercise of state power and law-based government administration, and taken integrated steps to build a country, government and society based on the rule of law. The top-level design of law-based governance on all fronts has been improved and become more systematic, holistic and coordinated.

Third, we have accelerated work on developing the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristcs . We have stepped up efforts in developing a complete system of legal norms, an efficient enforcement system, a strict supervision system, a strong legal support system and a refined system of Party regulations. As of the end of September 2022, a total of 293 laws, 598 administrative regulations and over 13,000 local regulations have been in effect. In the past 10 years, 159 central Party regulations have also been formulated or revised.

Fourth, major progress has been made in the reform of the judicial system. The judicial system has undergone historic transformation, systematic reshaping and overall reconstruction. Eighty-five percent of staff in judicial organs are now deployed on the front line handling cases, and the number of cases handled per member of staff has risen by 20%. The clearance rate is up by 18%, and in 98% of first- and second-instance cases, litigants were willing to accept the judgments rendered. The quality and efficiency of judicial performance as well as the credibility of the judicial system have continued to improve.

Fifth, stronger law-based protection of social equity and justice is in place. The law-based protection of equality before the law and the protection of human rights under the rule of law have been improved. Law is enforced in a strict, procedure-based, impartial and civil manner. As a result, the people enjoy a wide range of rights and freedoms and assume their obligations in accordance with the law.

Third, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has been applied as guidance for building the rule of law in China in the new era.

We should study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, translate Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law into strong motivation and actions supporting comprehensive law-based governance, and strive to build a higher level of rule of law in China. We will mainly focus on four areas:

First, we will improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the Constitution at its core. The Constitution is the fundamental law and the general charter for governing the country. We should comprehensively strengthen the implementation of the Constitution and the supervision thereof, and effectively safeguard its sanctity and authority. We should take the Constitution as the supreme legal norm, and carry out lawmaking in a well-conceived and democratic way and in accordance with law. We should strengthen legislation in key, emerging and foreign-related fields, integrate core socialist values into legislation, and develop a sound, comprehensive, unified and authoritative socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.

Second, we will steadily promote law-based government administration. Building a law-based government is the key and primary task in advancing law-based governance. We will deepen the reform of the administrative law enforcement system and improve the administrative decision-making system. We should fully implement the system for listing the powers and obligations of government departments across the board and the criteria for administrative discretion, and strengthen law enforcement capacity and supervision. We should set rules and boundaries for administrative power within the rule of law, and work faster toward building a law-based administrative governance system with clear functions and responsibilities.

Third, we will ensure strict and impartial administration of justice. Equity and justice are at the heart of a judicial system. We will expand comprehensive reform in the judicial system and optimize the distribution of judicial powers. We will accelerate the development of a new mechanism for the operation of judicial powers that is rational and rule-based, with balanced rights and responsibilities. We will improve the checks and balances between the powers of investigation, prosecution, adjudication and enforcement. We will comprehensively strengthen the legal supervision power of the prosecution authorities in the new era, and ensure that all aspects and processes of judicial activities are carried out under effective supervision. We will strive to make people feel a sense of fairness and justice in every judicial case.

Fourth, we will accelerate the building of a law-based society. Only when all people trust and act in accordance with the law can the rule of law permeate the country and social life. We should improve the modern public legal service system, fully implement the eighth Five-Year Plan for Promoting the Rule of Law (2021-2025), and promote the spirit of socialist rule of law. We should give full play to the exemplary role of officials to ensure that upholding, studying, observing and applying the law become the common pursuit and conscious effort of all the people. This will improve the rule of law in social governance in all respects.

That's all for my introduction. Thank you.

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