Official says rule of law should be advanced

On Saturday, a senior official emphasized the importance of advancing law-based governance in all areas, and called for efforts to be made to further develop the rule of law for the new era.

Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, made the comments during a meeting with legal experts and scholars.

The meeting was held after President Xi Jinping directed the first meeting of the Commission for Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee on Aug 24, calling for stronger and more unified Party leadership in advancing law-based governance in all areas.

The new ideas, new thinking and new strategies put forward since the CPC's 18th National Congress - including strengthening the Party's leadership in developing the rule of law and ensuring the primacy of the people - must be continued in the long run and continuously developed, Xi said.

Guo said new ideas, new thinking and new strategies were an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and served as fundamental guidance to deepen the practice of law-based governance.

"All legal experts and scholars should be practitioners, developers and contributors in cultivating more legal talent and make new contributions to the great practice of the rule of law," he said.

Huang Jin, a professor of law at the China University of Political Science and Law, said Xi's remarks also promoted higher standards and requirements for education in the law.

"Legal education plays a basic and primary role in advancing law-based governance in all areas, and we will endeavor to improve the level and quality of the education," Huang said.

Wang Limin, a professor of law at Renmin University of China, said Xi had also clarified work priorities - to formulate an overall plan for building the rule of law, strengthen the law-based administration of government, ensure legislation is sound, deepen reform of the judicial system and build a society based on the rule of law.

"Advancing law-based governance in all areas is a long and difficult task, and will result in a profound and significant social change. Only by carrying out scientific planning can we promote the cause of building the rule of law steadily and solidly," Wang said.