China to boost reviews to ensure legal system

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law guideline for improving judicial duties

China will step up reviews to ensure all laws and regulations as well as national governance are in line with the Constitution－a move meant to guarantee implementation of the country's fundamental law, top officials said in Beijing on Friday, the seventh National Constitution Day.

"Implementing the Constitution plays a prominent role in promoting the rule of law in all aspects, so supervision to ensure its enforcement must be enhanced," Jiang Bixin, vice-chairman of the Constitution and Law Committee of the National People's Congress, said at a symposium on improving a Constitution-based socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.

The NPC, China's top legislature, will steadily push forward constitutional reviews of laws, regulations and other documents with legal effect to uphold the authority of the Constitution, Jiang said.

Sun Qian, deputy procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said at the symposium that the supervisory mechanism guaranteeing implementation of the Constitution still needs improvement as there are still cases where laws are not fully observed or enforced.

"The procuratorates will perform our role of supervising law enforcement and public power while handling each case. We'll particularly focus on the issues that disrespect laws and judicial injustice that concerns the public the most," Sun said."By performing our supervisory duties more effectively, we will ensure people's rights as stated in the Constitution are fully protected."

During a key meeting held in Beijing last month, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to uphold the Constitution as the fundamental guide for all activities. He said governing the country by the Constitution means firmly following the leadership of the Communist Party of China and upholding the State system and political system stipulated in the Constitution.

"Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law includes a series of key statements on the Constitution, which means understanding and implementing the Constitution has reached a new level," said Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

After the Constitution was amended in 2018, its enforcement has been enhanced and promoted in every walk of life. For example, the Constitution stipulates that nonpublic economic bodies are key elements of the socialist market economy, so procuratorates nationwide have been protecting their development, Sun said.

During the ongoing Constitution Week campaign that began on Monday, the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the Constitution have been a focus, Minister of Justice Tang Yijun said at a State Council Information Office briefing on Friday.

Aybek Askhar contributed to this story.