Xi emphasizes crucial role of fairness, justice in law enforcement

Observers say president's remarks provide guidelines for nation's public security forces

President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of fairness and justice in law enforcement, urging the police to fulfill their missions to create a safe and stable social environment that enables the people to have an even stronger sense of security.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told officials at a national conference on public security, which concluded in Beijing on Wednesday, that social fairness and justice are lifelines for judicial and law enforcement work.

Efforts should be made to make the public feel the fairness and justice in each and every case, Xi said. He urged the police to improve their work so that human rights can be guaranteed while crime is fought, and fairness can be ensured while the efficiency of law enforcement is pursued.

Observers have considered the president's remarks as fundamental guidelines for the nation's public security forces to fulfill their responsibilities and serve the people in the new era while China strives to realize national rejuvenation.

As the nation is advancing overall law-based governance, it is important to promote impartiality in law enforcement to ensure the public's lawful interests can be protected and social stability can be maintained, said Wang Wanhua, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law.

China has emerged as the world's second-largest economy over the past 40 years. Coupled with its rapid economic growth is sustained social stability.

Xi told the officials that, under the new historical conditions, the public security departments must adhere to the overall national security outlook and people-centered approach.

He underlined the importance of properly defusing various social contradictions, and said efforts must be made to address the public's legitimate and lawful concerns to safeguard their interests and, in the meantime, guide the public in voicing their concerns in a law-based manner to maintain social order.

Strong pressure must be maintained to crack down on crimes such as organized gang crime, violent and terrorist crimes and those related to fraud, robbery, drug and food safety and environmental protection that affect the interests of the public, Xi said.

In January last year, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, China's Cabinet, launched a three-year campaign against organized criminal gangs to better safeguard social stability.

Prosecutors charged 61,188 suspects involved in organized crimes in local mafia-like gangs last year, and around 350 people were charged for serving as a "protective umbrella" for such criminals, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Xi told officials that additional efforts must be made to ensure that the people have a more solid and sustained sense of security.

Xi called for reforms in public security work and said big data should be used as a major engine to promote innovation in the sector.

Zeng Xin, head of the Hubei Provincial Public Security Department, told Xinhua News Agency that concrete measures must be taken to regulate police officers' law enforcement to increase their credibility and improve the authority of law enforcement.