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On October 14, 2024, the China Law Society officially launched the bilingual Chinese-English edition of the Annual Report on the Rule of Law in China (2023). This marks the 16th consecutive year that this comprehensive account of China’s legal advancements has been shared with both domestic and international audiences.

The report serves as a testament to the deep integration of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law into the foundation of Chinese society. It offers a detailed and systematic analysis of the major milestones in the development of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics in 2023. Comprising 63,000 Chinese characters, the report is meticulously structured into 15 sections, namely: the preface; selected excerpts from Xi Jinping’s February 7, 2023, speech at the seminar for new and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee and principal provincial and ministerial leaders, titled “Chinese Modernization Is Socialist Modernization under the Leadership of the Communist Party of China”; an in-depth account of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and its Standing Committee’s efforts to oversee and ensure compliance with the Constitution, as well as their legislative and supervisory work; law-based government administration; comprehensive reforms in judicial and law enforcement sectors; judicial, prosecutorial, public security, and judicial administrative operations; protection of human rights under the rule of law; intellectual property protection; advancement of the rule of law in ecological civilization; legal education and theoretical research; legal culture; foreign-related rule of law; the conclusion; “A Numerical Overview of China’s Rule of Law in 2023”; and the appendix.

The report highlights several key developments:

1.To further emphasize the Constitution’s supreme status as the country’s fundamental law, the report expands its focus on the NPC and its Standing Committee’s role in overseeing and ensuring compliance with the Constitution. The section previously titled “Legislative and Oversight Efforts by the National People’s Congress and Its Standing Committee” has been renamed “The National People’s Congress and Its Standing Committee: Oversight to Ensure Constitutional Compliance, Legislative and Oversight Efforts.”

2.In alignment with the emphasis on thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, a new section on “Legal Culture” has been introduced. Consequently, the content on promoting legal awareness, originally under “Theoretical Research on Law, Legal Education, and Promoting Legal Awareness,” has been moved to this newly created section.

3.In accordance with the Guidelines on Strengthening Legal Education and Theoretical Research in the New Era, issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, the section previously titled “Theoretical Research on Law, Legal Education, and Increasing Legal Awareness” has been renamed “Legal Education and Theoretical Research.”

4.To more vividly and directly reflect the realities of China’s legal development in 2023, the report introduces a new section titled “A Numerical Overview of China’s Rule of Law in 2023.” Positioned between the conclusion and appendices, this section uses a wealth of data to showcase the significant achievements and highlights of China’s legal progress.

The report underscores that in 2023, significant strides were made in studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, advancing scientific legislation, enforcing laws strictly, ensuring impartial justice, and fostering a law-abiding society. It stresses the indispensable role of the rule of law in consolidating foundations, stabilizing expectations, and ensuring long-term benefits. Notably, a grand conference was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s endorsement of the Fengqiao Model, as well as the 20th anniversary of Xi Jinping’s directive to continue developing this model in the New Era. This event reaffirmed the commitment to advancing the legal prevention and resolution of conflicts.

Additionally, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Guidelines on Strengthening Legal Education and Theoretical Research in the New Era, charting a visionary path for the high-quality development of legal education and theoretical research.

The NPC Standing Committee established National Ecology Day, with the aim of raising ecological awareness across society and fostering greater participation in global environmental and climate governance. The Legislation Law was revised to uphold and advance the principle of whole-process people’s democracy in the legislative process, while refining mechanisms that enable legislation to lead and drive reform and innovation. Moreover, the Patriotism Education Law was enacted to promote and safeguard patriotism education in the New Era through the means of the rule of law. The Administrative Reconsideration Law was also revised, further enhancing the administrative reconsideration system to ensure it remains the primary avenue for resolving administrative disputes, thereby advancing the construction of a law-based government.

The NPC Standing Committee also passed the Criminal Law Amendment (XII), further refining provisions for the punishment of corruption-related crimes, with particular emphasis on intensifying penalties for bribery offenses. Efforts to cultivate a business environment grounded in the rule of law have been deepened, ensuring that all market entities are equally protected under the law, continuously invigorating market vitality. International cooperation in combating telecom fraud has been strengthened, with the orderly implementation of special initiatives such as the Qinglang and Jingwang campaigns to create a cleaner online environment.

In addition, the public legal service system has been enhanced, with improved mechanisms promoting the establishment of a law-based society, thereby bolstering the people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. The Foreign State Immunity Law was enacted, and the Law on Foreign Relations officially came into force, enriching China’s legal exchanges with the world. Furthermore, efforts were made to improve the legal framework and capacity for foreign-related rule of law, aligned with the demands of high-quality development and high-level opening up. These initiatives have fostered a favorable legal environment both domestically and internationally, supporting the steady and far-reaching progress of Chinese modernization.

The report highlights that China’s historic achievements in the rule of law in 2023 are fundamentally attributable to the leadership and guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the scientific direction of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. These accomplishments vividly demonstrate the profound truth and practical power of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, writing a new chapter in the advancement of Chinese modernization along the path of the rule of law.

The report also emphasizes that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a pivotal year for realizing the goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. As China embarks on this new journey in the New Era, it is crucial to unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, it is essential to deeply implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the holistic approach to national security. Moreover, the guiding principles from the Party’s 20th National Congress, along with the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, must be thoroughly studied and enacted. It is imperative to translate the Party Central Committee’s major decisions and strategies into vivid and practical actions under comprehensive law-based governance, ensuring that the Party’s line, principles, policies, and decisions are fully and effectively implemented through legal means. This will provide strong legal safeguards for the continued deepening of reforms and the advancement of Chinese modernization.