Rule of law fully founded

The socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics is a guarantee for the economic development and social progress

Governing the country according to the law and building a socialist state with rule of law are fundamental strategies for running the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially over the past three decades of reform and opening-up, through the unremitting efforts of the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee, the State Council, the local people's congresses and their standing committees, as well as all sectors of society, by the end of August, 2011, China had enacted the Constitution and the 240 laws, 706 administrative regulations and more than 8,600 local regulations that are now in force.

The socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics has been formulated. This is a milestone in the history of the development of China's socialist democratic legal system and symbolizes that the socialist system with Chinese characteristics has become mature.

The While Paper on socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics, highlights the accomplishments made in the development of the socialist democratic legal system, explains systematically and thoroughly the development of the socialist system of laws, and provides the world with a full and objective picture of China's socialist democratic legal development. It will facilitate communication, trust, friendship and cooperation between China and other countries.

The preface emphasizes that the formulation of the socialist system of laws provides the legal basis for all walks of life. It is the premise and foundation for comprehensively implementing the basic strategies for governing the country according to the law, and is also the institutional guarantee for China's development and progress. The socialist system of laws is a complete system of legal codes involving such fields as economy, politics, culture, social development and ecological conservation.

There are four chapters in the White Paper. Chapter one explains the process of development for socialist system of laws along with the progress of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The socialist system of laws has been formulated gradually to meet the needs of China's reform and opening-up, as well as its socialist modernization. Chapter two outlines the composition of the socialist system of laws. This system is led by the Constitution, with laws as its backbone, and administrative and local regulations the important components. It is a unified system composed of Constitutional laws, civil laws and commercial laws, administrative laws, economic laws, social laws, criminal laws, procedural laws and non-litigation laws. This chapter concentrates on the general situation of the different types of laws. Chapter three elaborates on the distinctive features of the socialist system of laws. This system reflects the essential requirements for realizing socialism with Chinese characteristics, the need for reform and opening-up, as well as socialist modernization, and the need to cope with the complex realities of China. It reflects that China inherited a strong legal tradition and learnt from the experience of the legal systems in other countries, and reflects the requirements for dynamic and open development that progresses with the times. During the course of building this system, the legislature of China has been adhering to tightly integrating the leadership of the CPC, the people's position as the masters of the country and the rule of law, carrying out legislative work in a planned way while focusing on the key areas, and has ultimately found China's own path of legal development. Chapter four is about the improvement of the socialist system of laws. This chapter expounds on the major tasks for building a complete socialist system of laws. At present, and for a period of time to come, China will accelerate the transformation of the pattern of economic development, stress protecting and improving people's wellbeing and promote the building of a harmonious world based on the need for scientific economic and social development. We will continue enhancing legislation in the economic field, vigorously promote legislation involving socialist democratic politics, emphasize legislation in the field of social welfare, pay attention to legislation in culture, science and technology, and attach great importance to legislation concerning ecological development. We will further promote legislative work in a scientific and democratic manner and focus on improving the quality of laws.

The effectiveness of law enforcement is now the most pressing matter. China will take measures to ensure better implementation of the Constitution and the laws, to promote the socialist State with rule of law.

The author is the vice-chairperson of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

(China Daily 11/04/2011 page8)