Advancing Law-Based Governance

A comprehensive agenda for promoting the rule of law was launched by the fourth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in October 2014. Promoting the rule of law is indispensable to promoting socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In view of the problems, risks and challenges China faces in moving forward with further reform, and ensuring development and stability, a rule-of-law culture has become more important than ever before in addressing these challenges.

The broad goal is to build a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics where the rule of law is respected. To this end, it is necessary to have in place a complete set of legal norms, efficient enforcement measures, rigorous oversight mechanisms, effective legal protections, and a complete body of internal Party regulations.

The comprehensive process of promoting the rule of law should ensure that the Constitution and laws are fully complied with in national governance and in the exercise of political and executive power. Coordinated efforts should be made to strengthen our legal system and legal awareness throughout the country, at all levels of the government, and in all sectors of society, so as to ensure the rationality of our legislative process, universal adherence to and strict enforcement of all laws, and impartial administration of justice.

It is also essential in this regard to ensure and foster social equity and justice so that people feel that justice is done in all cases. Leadership by the Party is indispensable throughout the process of promoting the rule of law. Promoting the rule of law is a system engineering project, a revolution in China’s governance with wide-ranging ramifications.

全面依法治國

2014年10月召開的中共十八屆四中全會作出了“全面推進依法治國”的重大部署。全面依法治國是中國特色社會主義的本質要求和重要保障。中國要完成好改革發展穩定的任務，要應對好矛盾風險挑戰，需要比以往任何時候都更加注重運用法治思維和法治方式開展工作、解決問題，更好發揮法治的引領和規范作用。全面依法治國的總目標是：建設中國特色社會主義法治體系，建設社會主義法治國家。實現這一目標，需要形成完備的法律規范體系、高效的法治實施體系、嚴密的法治監督體系、有力的法治保障體系，以及完善的黨內法規體系。在全面推進依法治國進程中，必須堅持依法治國、依法執政、依法行政共同推進，堅持法治國家、法治政府、法治社會一體建設，實現科學立法、嚴格執法、公正司法、全民守法；必須緊緊圍繞保障和促進社會公平正義來進行，努力讓人民群眾在每一個司法案件中都能感受到公平正義；必須把黨的領導貫徹落實到依法治國全過程和各方面，堅定不移走中國特色社會主義法治道路。全面依法治國是一個系統工程，是國家治理領域一場廣泛而深刻的革命。