Gov't follows Party's plan to realize law-abiding governance

Top leaders including Party chief Xi Jinping attend the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing.LAN HONGGUANG / XINHUA

BEIJING -- The State Council, China's cabinet, met on Friday to implement the blueprint of legal reform adopted by a key Party session Thursday.

How to understand China's 'rule of law'

The State Council urged governments of all levels to perform their duties in line with the law, said a statement issued after the meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

The meeting laid out major tasks to implement the decision made by the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at its fourth plenary session on "comprehensively advancing rule of law."

While transforming government functions, easing and decentralizing the powers as it has been doing since March 2013, the government will clarify what is in its power and what not, as well as its responsibilities, the statement said.

"We will make sure that the government does not act without legal authorization and does act if the law requires," it said.

The government will streamline the procedure for making administrative regulations and ensure all major reforms have legal endorsement.

It will also address problems like overlapping and duplicate law enforcement and increase transparency of government policies and administrative procedures.

"Governments at all levels and their officials should set the example of abiding by the Constitution and law. They should improve their awareness of law and capacity to perform their duties by law," the statement said.

The State Council also expects that efforts to realize law-abiding governance will contribute to the current administrative reforms.

Thursday's CPC session, the first to focus on the rule of law, promised sweeping judical reform.

The decision will have a profound effect on the drive for the rule of law, the statement said, and implementation will be a priority.