Remarks on the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Improving the Rule-of-law in an All-round Way

Statement made by Xi Jinping at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC. On October 20, 2014, Xi Jinping made a statement on the drafting of the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC regarding the drafting of the “Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Certain Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Advancing the Law-Based Governance of China”. Contained in the Selection and Compilation of Important Documents since the 18th National Congress (Vol. 2).

Xi Jinping’s statement is divided into three parts. In the first part, "on the background and process of the decision of the plenary session", Xi Jinping introduced the process of drafting, soliciting opinions, revising and improving of it, and he also expounded the era conditions, realistic requirements and important significance of the strategic layout of the Party's focus on comprehensively administering the country by the rule-of-law as was discussed in the 4th Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee.

Xi Jinping pointed out: “The law is a major tool of great value in the governance of a country and good laws are a prerequisite for good governance, China has to prioritize lawmaking as it develops the system of rule of law.” Comprehensive promotion of the rule-of-law is a major strategic issue related to governing and rejuvenating of the nation, the happiness and well-being of the people, and the long-term stability of the Party and the state.

In the second part, "General Framework and Main Contents of the Plenary Resolution", Xi Jinping elaborated on the five points of consideration discussed in the plenary meeting and explained the basic structure of the "Resolution" consisting of three major sections. The introduction and the first part constitute the first section, and elucidated on the general theoretical basis; the second part to the fifth part constitute the second section, this section discusses and maps out the issues of legislative work, law enforcement, judiciary work, and abidance by the law; the sixth part, the seventh part and the concluding remarks constitute the third section, and focuses on the issues of building the needed cadre contingent, strengthening and improving the Party leadership.

In the third part, "Several Questions That Need Explanation," Xi Jinping has focused on ten questions. (1) “The relationship between the Party's leadership and governing the country according to law” is the core issue in the construction of the rule of law; (2) “The overall goal of comprehensively advancing the rule-of-law in the country” is to build a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and a socialist country ruled by law; (3) “Improve the implementation and supervision system of the constitution”, and establish the national constitution day; (4) To “improve the legislative system” and promote scientific and democratic legislation; (5) To “accelerate the construction of a government under the rule of law”, governments at all levels must adhere to the leadership of the Party and work on the track of the rule of law; (6) To “improve the judicial credibility” and give play to the important leading role of judicial justice within social justice; (7) “The Supreme People's court establishing circuit courts” to hear major administrative and civil and commercial cases including all administrative regions; (8) To “explore the establishment of people's courts and people's procuratorates in all administrative divisions” to ensure that they independently and impartially exercise their judicial and procuratorial powers in accordance with the law; (9) To “explore the establishment of public interest litigation system by procuratorial organs”; (10) “Promote the reform of the litigation system centered on trials” so as to effectively prevent the occurrence of unjust, false and wrong cases.

The explanations made by Xi Jinping at the plenary session have unified the Party's ideological understanding and clarified the leading force, objectives and tasks, strategic priorities and strategic deployment of the comprehensive rule of law, which is of great practical and far-reaching historical significance in accelerating the building of a socialist state under the rule of law and improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.