China issues white paper on "Promoting Rule of Law"

Source: Xinhua | 02-28-2008 18:03

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- A White Paper on "China's Efforts and Achievements in Promoting the Rule of Law" was issued here on Thursday by the Information Office of the State Council, the cabinet.

The paper, consisting of a foreword, eight statements, a conclusion and an appendix, covers such topics as the historical course of building a socialist country under the rule of law, legislation and a legal system with Chinese characteristics, legal systems to respect and safeguard human rights, and other social and economic issues.

In the first part, titled "Historical Course of Building a Socialist Country Under the Rule of Law," the paper covers the long history of China's legal system, noting that the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 ushered in a new era for the promotion of the rule of law.

"Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people, after revolution, construction, reform and development, gradually took the road of building a socialist country under the rule of law," the white paper says.

In its second part, "Legislation and Legal System with Chinese Characteristics," the paper says that, to guarantee the uniformity of the legal system of the state and reflect the common will and overall interests of the people, China exercises uniform, multi-tiered legislation.

"The Constitution prescribes that the National People's Congress (NPC) and its Standing Committee exercise the legislative power of the state," says the paper.

The third part, "Legal Systems of Respecting and Safeguarding Human Rights," says that "based on its Constitution, China has formulated and improved a series of legal systems to codify and institutionalize the safeguarding of human rights."

China has joined 22 international human rights conventions, it says.

The fourth part, "Legal Systems Regulating the Order of the Market Economy," says that during the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, which has taken place since the adoption of the reform and opening-up policies in 1978, China has continuously strengthened its legislation in economic and related fields.

"A legal system compatible with the socialist market economy has basically taken shape," it says.

In its fifth part, the white paper claims that administration by law and building a government under the rule of law are essential for the overall implementation of the fundamental principle of governing the country by law, which are basic administrative norms of the government.

The administrative powers of the people's governments at various levels have been gradually guided along the track of a legal system, says the white paper, which adds that "the legal system that regulates the acquisition and operation of government power has taken shape."

The white paper introduces the "Judicial System and Fair Administration of Justice" in its sixth part, saying: "The people's court is the judicial organ in China and the people's procuratorate is the supervisory organ for law enforcement."

In the seventh part, the white paper stresses the importance of the "Popularization and Education of the Law."

"For many years, the nation has unremittingly carried out education and publicity of the legal system, promoting the spirit of law and enhancing public awareness," the white paper states.

In "International Exchange and Cooperation in Legal Construction," which is the eighth part, the white paper says that China has referred to and learned from other countries' legislative experience.

The white paper says that China has held dialogues on the rule of law regularly with the United Nations, international human rights organizations and the World Trade Organization.

China has also launched multilateral and bilateral legal exchange mechanisms with the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as with individual countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Australia. These exchanges have greatly enhanced mutual understanding and trust.

In conclusion, the white paper says: "China's legal construction is still facing some problems" and adds that "the task still remains onerous to strengthen education in the rule of law and enhance the awareness of law and the concept of the rule of law among the public."

The white paper says that the Chinese people are going all out to build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.

Along with the sound, rapid development of the economy and society, the rights and interests of the people will certainly enjoy better protection, it says.

The construction of a socialist country under the rule of law will certainly witness more fruitful results, and China will surely make more contributions to the development and advancement of human society, the paper adds.