Rule of law sets tone for Party session

Improving socialist system, modernizing capacity for governance CPC's major missions

Advancing the rule of law will play an important role in improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and the country's governance capacity, legal experts said.

The remarks were made before a key meeting of the central leadership, which runs from Monday to Thursday in Beijing.

At the opening of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

He also explained a draft document of the CPC Central Committee's decision on some major issues concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

No details of the work report or the draft decision were released on Monday.

At a meeting of the Political Bureau on Thursday, leaders agreed that upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance are major strategic missions for the Party.

To achieve these goals, a strong Party leadership and running the country by the rule of law must be upheld, according to a release from the meeting.

"To further advance the rule of law is an essential requirement and key guarantee for improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and governance capacity," said Ruan Chuansheng, a law professor at Shanghai Administration Institute.

In October 2014, the development of the rule of law was discussed as a major topic at the fourth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. It was the first time a plenary session of the CPC Central Committee had made the rule of law a central theme.

When the meeting concluded, a decision on "major issues concerning comprehensively advancing rule of law" was adopted that said China would work to build a law-abiding government and ensure the leadership of the CPC operated within "a socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics".

"It showed the significance of the rule of law for the country's development, and the high attention the central leadership pays to it," Ruan said, adding that he believed the issue will remain a topic at the ongoing plenary session.

"Advancing law-based governance is a long-term job," he added.