A total of 12 legal experts and scholars were invited to a think tank forum to discuss judicial reform and political and legal affairs at the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs (CPLA) of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing, on Jan 8.

They were the second group of guests of Meng Jianzhu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the CPLA, CPC Central Committee, following a visit by 12 lawyers the previous day.

Meng Jianzhu leads the think tank forum in Beijing, Jan 8. [Photo by Hao Fan/ chinacourt.org]

The guests included Zhuo Zeyuan, Qin Qianhong and Ji Weidong, who are long-standing acquaintances of Meng, and other officials of the CPLA and the Office of the Central Leading Group for Judicial Reform. They had shared their opinions at last month’s symposium on judicial reform.

Also in attendance were scholars Jia Yu, Chen Su, He Qinhua, Sun Xiaoxia, Zhang Jianwei, and Qiang Shigong, most of whom have been involved in research on and practical application of central and regional judicial reforms, and have had input into draft reform plans and policies.

“A top-level design is needed to advance judicial reform, which cannot be well planned without the basis of jurisprudence,” Meng said in his opening address.

Meng spoke highly of the contributions made by the professionals attending the forum and expected them to share their views.