strengthening Confidence in the Rule of Law: Xi Jinping’s Letter Inspires Legal Practitioners
On January 11, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping penned a letter to the ninth National Member Congress of the China law Society, urging legal practitioners to strengthen their confidence in the rule of law and actively participate in the great practice of comprehensively governing the country according to law. The letter, which extended greetings to the vast number of legal professionals, emphasized the importance of promoting legal research, serving the practice of the rule of law, strengthening the publicity of the rule of law, and cultivating rule of law talents.Xi Jinping’s letter resonated deeply with legal practitioners,who expressed their commitment to building a higher-level socialist country under the rule of law and promoting Chinese-style modernization. Wang Hongxiang, Secretary of the Party Leadership group and Executive Deputy President of the China Law Society, highlighted Xi’s directive for law societies to “further strengthen their own construction and better play their role as bridges and ties.” This, he said, provides a clear direction for the work of law societies in the new era.
The letter also outlined specific tasks, including “prospering legal research” and “serving the practice of the rule of law.” Li Lin, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pledged to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law, accelerating the construction of a legal discipline system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics.
In recent years,law societies across various regions have innovated their roles as “think tanks” and “talent pools” for comprehensively governing the country according to law. The shihezi Law Society of the Eighth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps,as an example,has promoted the work of chief legal consulting experts,helping companies avoid legal risks through activities like “legal physical examinations” and “enterprise consultations.” Chen Yuan, Secretary-general of the Shihezi Law Society, emphasized the importance of leveraging expert resources to safeguard high-quality economic and social progress.
Popularizing the law among the people remains a cornerstone of building a China ruled by law. Law societies have held over 324,000 “100 lectures by 100 jurists,” reaching a direct audience of more than 130 million people. Wang Zhanxia, Full-time Vice President of the Guizhou Provincial Law Society, noted xi’s clear requirements to strengthen the publicity of the rule of law, stating that legal popularization work must be improved in quality and effectiveness, using methods that resonate with the people.The construction of a rule of law country, government, and society is inseparable from a high-quality rule of law talent team. Legal practitioners are encouraged to embody both ability and political integrity, contributing to the nation’s rejuvenation and the construction of a strong country.
Key Highlights from Xi Jinping’s Letter
| Focus Area | key Directive |
|—————-|——————-|
| Legal Research | Prosper legal research and accelerate the construction of a legal system with Chinese characteristics |
| Rule of Law Practice | Serve the practice of the rule of law and innovate forms to play roles as think tanks and talent pools |
| Publicity of the Rule of Law | Strengthen legal popularization work, using methods that resonate with the people |
| Talent Cultivation | Cultivate high-quality rule of law talents with both ability and political integrity |
Xi jinping’s letter serves as a rallying call for legal practitioners to deepen their commitment to the rule of law, fostering a new era of legal development in China. As the nation continues its journey toward modernization, the role of legal professionals remains pivotal in shaping a socialist country under the rule of law with Chinese characteristics.
Cultivating High-Quality Legal Talents: A Path to Fairness and Justice in China
In a nation were the rule of law is paramount, the cultivation of high-quality legal talents is essential to ensuring fairness and justice in every legal system, law enforcement decision, and judicial case. This mission is inseparable from the dedication of legal practitioners who continuously strengthen their ideals and beliefs while actively assuming their responsibilities.
Feng Feng,Director of the political and Legal Teaching and Research Department of the Central Party School (national Academy of Governance),emphasized the importance of integrating morality and law,as well as combining teaching with practice. “These are the training goals for legal talents,” she stated, adding that she will conscientiously implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s vital instructions to better cultivate a team of high-quality legal professionals.
Lawyers on the Front Line of Legal Governance
Gao Jinbo, director of Beijing Hanlong Law Firm, highlighted the critical role of lawyers in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people. “As legal practitioners, lawyers must always stand on the front line of the great practice of governing the country according to law, and contribute more to providing legal advice to the government,” he explained.
Drawing from China’s Traditional Legal Culture
Chen Zhiyuan, director of the China Institute of Applied Law of the Supreme People’s Court, underscored the importance of China’s traditional legal culture. “China’s excellent traditional legal culture is broad and profound and is an important spiritual source for us to absorb the thoughts of the rule of law and strengthen our confidence in the rule of law,” he said. He further emphasized the need to persist in digging deep into these resources, summarizing achievements and experiences in governing the country, and leveraging the Internet and new media platforms to tell the story of China’s rule of law in the new era.
Procuratorial Practice and Protecting People’s Livelihood
Xiao Zhenglei, deputy director of the Civil procuratorate Department of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, stressed the importance of actively promoting the procuratorial practice of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on the rule of law. “We must focus on solving the urgent, difficult, and anxious problems of the people through the special action of ‘Protecting People’s Livelihood’,” he said.He added that handling every case with high quality and efficiency is crucial to making the people feel fairness and justice more tangible.
Implementing the Party’s Decisions on Rule of Law
Ren Yong, deputy director of the Secretariat of the Central office for the Rule of Law, was deeply inspired by the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s letter. “We must follow the direction pointed out by the General secretary, conscientiously implement the Party Central Committee’s major decisions and arrangements for comprehensively governing the country according to law, and solidly advance the ‘one plan and two outlines’ for rule of law construction,” he stated. He also highlighted the need to promote the establishment of a working mechanism that integrates foreign-related legislation, law enforcement, justice, law-abiding, and legal services, as well as the cultivation of legal talents.
Strengthening Leadership Over Law Societies
General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated in his letter that “Party committees at all levels must strengthen their leadership over law societies and provide strong support for law societies to carry out their work in accordance with the law and charters.” Suo Yongji, deputy secretary of the tonghua Municipal Party Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the Municipal Party Committee in Jilin Province, echoed this sentiment. He emphasized the need to implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, strengthen leadership and support for the work of the Law Society, and explore the integration of the Law Society’s grassroots service stations with local complete management centers and Party-Mass Service Centers.
Key Points in Legal Talent Cultivation
| Key Focus | Implementation |
|—————-|———————|
| Morality and Law | Integrating teaching with practice to cultivate high-quality legal talents |
| Traditional Legal Culture | Drawing from China’s broad and profound legal heritage to strengthen rule of law confidence |
| procuratorial Practice | promoting Xi Jinping’s thoughts on the rule of law and protecting people’s livelihood |
| Party Leadership | Strengthening leadership over law societies to ensure legal governance |
Conclusion
The journey toward fairness and justice in China’s legal system is a collective effort that requires the dedication of legal practitioners, the integration of traditional and modern legal practices, and the unwavering leadership of the Party. By cultivating high-quality legal talents and implementing the Party’s decisions on rule of law, China is poised to achieve a more tangible sense of fairness and justice for its people.
For more insights on China’s rule of law and legal talent cultivation, explore China Institute of Applied Law and Central Party School.
