Economic Daily:

Law enforcement is an important part of achieving the rule of law. The starting points of many law enforcement tasks are highly relevant to the interests of the people. I would like to ask, over the past decade, what efforts has the State Administration of Market Regulation made in strengthening market supervision and law enforcement to better protect the interests of the people? Thank you. 

Gan Lin:

Thank you for your question, as well as the concern and support for the field of market supervision and law enforcement from media friends. Mr. Tang has introduced the reforms and effects made by the State Administration of Market Regulation since the 18th CPC National Congress. The State Administration of Market Regulation was established in 2018 after institutional reforms, demonstrating the transformation of government functions as well as an important reform achievement in building a modern market system. It has achieved the integration of 600,000 market supervision personnel in the fields of law enforcement resources, institutions, and functions, streamlining to one team law enforcement team and further enhancing synergy brought by reforms. I would like to cite a set of statistics to demonstrate the effects of reforms. 

According to the statistics, this year, the average time period to settle a complaint on the well-known platform, 12315, was cut to 10 days, a 70.6% reduction compared to 2018. The success rate of mediation grew by 30%. The customer satisfaction score increased from 71.7 in 2017 to 80.6 in 2021, up by nine points within four years, which is not an easy task. To be specific, I will answer the question from the following three aspects, known as "three insistences."

Firstly, we have insisted on systematic thinking, building modernized supervision and law enforcement system in a holistic and integrated manner. We have integrated law enforcement resources. Given the wide range covered by law enforcement items in the field of market regulation, we have implemented a total of 258 laws, regulations, and rules. We have formulated 71 relevant laws and regulations over the past five years since the reform, basically realizing "six unifications" of directory of law enforcement guidance, the procedure of administrative execution, report and complaint platform, and so on. At the same time, we have carried out joint supervision and punishment mechanism featuring the basic approach of "random selection of cases and market inspectors and timely results publication." We have rolled out targeted regulations towards various credit risks of different levels, fully implemented information publicity of law enforcement, recording of the whole process of law enforcement, and legal review of major law enforcement decisions. Meanwhile, we have promoted digital reforms such as smart supervision and handheld law enforcement. Moreover, we have advanced the three sets of combination of prevention and governance, punishment and education, and law enforcement and popularization of law, comprehensively utilizing multi-tiered monitoring tools. Some local departments have explored new law enforcement methods such as "no penalty for the first breach" and "exemption from penalty for minor breaches" in a bid to ensure the coordination of legal effects and social harmony.

Secondly, we have insisted on serving overall interests and strengthening  law enforcement in key areas. We have resolutely maintained the market order related to the epidemic in accordance with the law. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, we have seized a total of 138 million problematic masks and cracked down on 15,900 price gouging cases. We have fully banned the wildlife trade, provided solid support to the overall situation of epidemic prevention and control, continuously carried out anti-arbitrary charge campaigns and returned over 320 million yuan of fees back to enterprises, and played a part in stabilizing the macro-economic market. Moreover, we have actively participated in a set of campaigns such as a crackdown on gang crimes, a fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin, and a fight against pornography and illegal publications. In all major political activities of the Party and country, we have firmly held the bottom line of safety supervision and vigorously regulated marketing behaviors and advertising orientations in a bid to build a sound and orderly market environment.

Thirdly, we have insisted on the people-oriented law enforcement concept and taken combined measures to ensure the implementation of comprehensive law enforcement. As part of our efforts to carry out the "four most" requirements, which are the strictest standards, supervision, punishment, and accountability, we have launched a set of campaigns to address food safety issues in campuses and rural areas as well as improve food qualities. Our case handling efficiency has increased by 60% over the past five years, playing a part in ensuring that every bite of food we eat is safe. At the same time, we have focused on the "key matters" around people and continuously carried out "iron fist" campaigns in the field of livelihood. We have severely cracked down on 16 kinds of illegal activities such as false advertising of "magic medicine," refurbishment of gas cylinders, and so on. We have severely investigated and dealt with malpractices of bottomless advertising, producing inferior children's toys, illegal measuring with glasses, and so on, in a bid to protect the health and safety of minors. Meanwhile, we have carried out campaigns to address the issues in the health care market and pension fraud issues so as to protect the property security of the elderly.

For the next step, the State Administration of Market Regulation will regard Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as our guidance, ensuring that all areas and the whole process of market supervision and law enforcement reflect people's interests and wishes, safeguard their rights and interests, and improve people's well-being. We will further improve the efficiency of regulations and law enforcement in a bid to constantly enhance people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. Thank you. 

Bloomberg: 

I have two questions to ask. The first question is China implemented the Personal Information Protection Law last year. Can you share with us some information as to how these cases are progressing? What areas are you focusing on in enforcing this law? Do you have other legislation plans to protect people's privacy? The second question is on the anti-foreign sanction law that was put in place last year, have there been any specific cases yet? Thank you.

Xu Anbiao:

Thank you for your interest in China's promotion of the rule of law. You raised two important questions. The first one is about legislation on personal information protection. The internet has become a new space for production and life, a new engine for economic growth, and a new link for exchange and cooperation. The collection and use of personal information in cyberspace are pervasive, affecting everyone and attracting a great deal of attention. China attaches great importance to personal information protection. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the NPC and its standing committee have adopted the Decision on Strengthening Online Information Protection, formulated the Cybersecurity Law and the E-commerce Law, and revised the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Consumers, thus establishing the basic rules for personal information protection. In addition, through adopting the Criminal Law Amendment, the provisions on punishing crimes that jeopardize personal information have been improved. Moreover, in the Civil Code, "personal information is protected by law" is recognized as an essential civil right.

The NPC Standing Committee deliberated over and passed the Personal Information Protection Law in August 2021, which went into effect on Nov. 1. Based on China's realities and international experiences, the law focuses on the outstanding problems and major public concerns in personal information protection. Based on existing laws, it further refines and improves the principles for personal information protection and also the rules for processing personal information. It clarifies the boundaries of rights and obligations in personal information processing and improves the working mechanisms for personal information protection. Furthermore, it stipulates strict legal liabilities for violating personal information protection rules, all in a bid to protect citizens' personal information effectively. For many articles of the Personal Information Protection Law to be implemented, there need to be supporting regulations, such as managing the collection of images in public places, managing personal information security, and evaluating the security of cross-border flows of personal information. Relevant departments have already introduced or are in the process of swiftly formulating such regulations. Apart from the Personal Information Protection Law, the NPC Standing Committee also passed the Data Security Law. In general, personal information protection involves a wide range of areas. We will further improve relevant rules and regulations to make the legal system for personal information protection tighter and sturdier.

Your second question is about the Law on Countering Foreign Sanctions. The law was adopted by the NPC Standing Committee and went into effect on June 10, 2021. Focusing on the unilateral sanctions of foreign countries in their attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs, the law reaffirms China's basic foreign policy, principles, and positions. It clarifies the circumstances, targets, and measures for countering foreign sanctions, thus providing a solid legal guarantee for China to take corresponding measures against foreign sanctions and oppose hegemonism and power politics. Since its adoption, China has countered foreign interference in its internal affairs under various pretexts based on it and firmly safeguarded its sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Thank you.