Yang Ziqiang: Deeply Grasping the Original Contributions of the Socialist System of Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

The law is the starting point of governance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The law is a vital instrument of state governance, and the rule of law is an important cornerstone for the national governance system and governance capacity." As a hallmark of human political civilization reaching a certain historical stage, the rule of law is something people of all nations aspire to and pursue. The rule of law is also what the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people have diligently sought for over a century, and it constitutes an essential component of the Core Socialist Values. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has positioned, laid out, and strictly enforced the rule of law from the overall and strategic perspective of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has creatively proposed a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies regarding comprehensively governing the country according to the law, culminating in the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is the latest achievement in the Sinicization of Marxist legal theory, a major innovative development of the theory of the rule of law with Chinese characteristics, an integral part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the fundamental compliance and guide for action for comprehensively governing the country according to the law in the New Era.

Original and landmark concepts are the cornerstones for advancing the systematic and theoretical research and interpretation of the Party's innovative theories. The "Decision" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee explicitly proposed that the general goal of comprehensively advancing the law-based governance of the country is to build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and to build a socialist country under the rule of law. Building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is an original and epochal concept and theory proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core; it is a vital component of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "Building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and building a socialist country under the rule of law are inevitable requirements for realizing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and are also inevitable requirements for comprehensively deepening reform." Building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics concerns the success or failure of the cause of comprehensively governing the country according to the law. All work related to law-based governance must be planned and advanced around this "general grasp" ^[1] of building the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics to achieve significant results. Deeply studying this original and landmark concept—grasping its original contributions and principled achievements from the dimensions of cultural roots, theoretical characteristics, thinking methods, core tasks, and global significance—is conducive to the deep study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. It strengthens theoretical confidence and strategic focus, allowing us to effectively use Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to arm our minds, guide practice, and promote work, while constantly opening up new horizons for comprehensively governing the country according to the law.

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a major innovative achievement that vividly interprets the essence of the "Two Combinations," opening up a new realm for the Sinicization of Marxist legal theory through spiritual independence and self-reliance. It profoundly reflects the powerful theoretical confidence and deep cultural roots of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

The question of the path is the primary issue affecting the success or failure of the Party’s cause. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics that we must adhere to is, in essence, the specific manifestation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the field of the rule of law; the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics that we must develop is, in essence, the theoretical achievement of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics regarding legal issues; the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics that we must build is, in essence, the legal manifestation of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics." The CPC is both a firm believer and practitioner of Marxism and a faithful inheritor and promoter of fine traditional Chinese culture. Opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the deep foundation of over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization makes the "Two Combinations"—combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture—the only way forward. The "Two Combinations" represent the systematic understanding our Party has reached while exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; they are our greatest "magic weapon" ^[2] for success, as well as the source of our foundation, confidence, and resolve in building the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the theoretical and practical result of combining Marxist legal theory with the specific realities of China’s development of the rule of law. Why the CPC "can," and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is "good," is ultimately because Marxism "works," and specifically because Marxism that has been Sinicized and adapted to our times "works." Marxist legal theory is an important part of Marxist theory. Starting from basic viewpoints such as law being determined by the economic base and law having a distinct class nature, it profoundly reveals the essential characteristics of law and scientifically elucidates fundamental issues such as the laws of legal development, the value and function of law, and basic legal relations. This placed the understanding of law on the foundation of a scientific worldview and methodology for the first time. As an original and landmark concept of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics uses dialectical materialism and historical materialism to profoundly grasp the relationship between the rule of law and politics, and between the rule of law and social development. It closely integrates Marxist legal theory with the rich practice of comprehensively governing the country according to the law in the New Era, positioning the leadership of the Party as the "soul" of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. It insists on proceeding from China’s reality, taking "walking one’s own path" as the starting point for all theory and practice. It neither ignores national conditions or exceeds the current stage of development, nor does it follow the beaten track or cling to old conventions. It does not blindly copy the models and practices of other countries—it does not follow the Western path of "constitutionalism," the "separation of powers," or "judicial independence"—yet it insists on upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, forging ahead and persisting over the long term. This demonstrates the theoretical quality of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law: "Strong and firm after a thousand grindings and strikes, defying the winds from all directions" ^[3].

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the theoretical and practical result of combining Marxist legal theory with fine traditional Chinese legal culture. Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has continued uninterrupted and developed to this day in the form of a state. With its distinct characteristics and rich connotations, fine traditional Chinese legal culture played an important role in ancient China in maintaining national unity, regulating social relations, and achieving national peace and prosperity, giving birth to the Zhonghua (Chinese) legal system, which stands unique in world legal history. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "The Chinese legal system embodies the spirit and wisdom of the Chinese nation, containing many excellent ideas and concepts worthy of our inheritance. This includes the governance strategy of 'internalizing rites and externalizing punishments' ^[4] and prioritizing both rites and law; the people-centered concept that 'the people are the foundation of the state, and when the foundation is solid, the state is at peace' ^[5]; the value pursuit of 'a world without litigation' ^[6] and 'harmony is precious' ^[7]; the thought on cautious punishment emphasizing 'virtue as primary and punishment as auxiliary' ^[8] and 'clarifying virtue and being cautious with penalties' ^[9]; the concept of equality in 'citing the law to determine crime' ^[10] and 'letting the punishment fit the crime' ^[11]; and the principles of leniency in execution such as 'protecting the widowed, the orphaned, the elderly, and the disabled' ^[12]. All of these manifest the wisdom of fine traditional Chinese legal culture." The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a system rooted in Chinese culture, based on Chinese national conditions, and designed to solve Chinese problems. It consistently upholds the stance of Chinese culture, inherits its cultural genes, and integrates the ideological essence of Marxist legal theory with the spiritual characteristics of fine traditional Chinese legal culture. It strives to permeate the unique value system, cultural connotations, and spiritual qualities of the Chinese people throughout the system of legal norms, the system of law enforcement, the system of legal oversight, the system of legal guarantees, and the system of internal Party regulations. It insists on combining law-based governance with virtue-based governance, focusing on manifesting the contemporary values of fine traditional culture—such as benevolence, people-centeredness, honesty, justice, harmony, and the "Great Unity" ^[13]—within the Core Socialist Values. It vigorously promotes the integration of Core Socialist Values into the entire process of building a law-based state, government, and society, as well as into every link of scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial justice, and universal law-abidance, ensuring that the rule of law and the rule of virtue complement and enhance each other. With its distinct Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese spirit, the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics vividly illustrates the mutual compatibility and mutual achievement of Marxist legal theory and fine traditional Chinese legal culture. It demonstrates the theoretical confidence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law in forging new glories for Chinese legal civilization with a strong sense of cultural subjectivity.

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a major innovative achievement of systematically summarizing the rich practice and valuable experience of the Party leading the development of the rule of law and continuously advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. It profoundly reflects that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has reached a new realm in its understanding of the laws of Communist Party governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human social development.

History is the best teacher. Experience and lessons have led our Party to the profound realization that the rule of law is an indispensable and important means of governing the country. When the rule of law flourishes, the country flourishes; when the rule of law declines, the country falls into chaos. Building the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the "general grasp" for implementing all tasks of comprehensively governing the country according to the law. In this unprecedented and great social practice led by the CPC and participated in by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, the Chinese nation, with its long history and splendid civilization, is striding forward on the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, continuously creating a new realm for the development of human legal civilization.

As early as the period of the New Democratic Revolution, while engaged in bloody and indomitable revolutionary struggle, our Party emphasized strengthening legal construction and conducting legal struggles. It carried out extensive explorations centered on uniting and winning over the masses, consolidating revolutionary power, and achieving national independence and liberation. For example, in the revolutionary base areas, the Party led the establishment of Soviet Congresses and Congresses of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers. It formulated the Outline of the Constitution of the Chinese Soviet Republic, the Constitutional Principles of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, and numerous other laws and decrees, laying an important foundation for the development of socialist rule of law after the founding of the People's Republic of China. During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Party led the people in promulgating China’s first constitution of a socialist type—the 1954 Constitution—within a short time. It formulated a batch of important laws and regulations and established the basic framework of the socialist legal system, which played a vital role in consolidating socialist power and carrying out socialist construction. During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, our Party profoundly summarized the experiences and lessons of China’s socialist rule of law construction. It identified law-based governance as the basic strategy for the Party to lead the people in governing the country and identified law-based exercise of power as the basic way the Party governs. It continuously advanced socialist rule of law, forming the system of laws with Chinese characteristics, which effectively guaranteed and promoted reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has, from the overall and strategic perspective of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, explicitly proposed comprehensively governing the country according to the law and incorporated it into the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, planning and advancing it within the overall development of the Party and state's cause. It wrote "the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics" into the Constitution. The CPC Central Committee established the Central Commission for Comprehensively Governing the Country according to the Law, and improved systems for the Party to lead legislation, guarantee law enforcement, support the judiciary, and take the lead in abiding by the law. This has driven historical changes and led to historical achievements in China’s socialist rule of law, opening up a new situation for comprehensively governing the country according to the law. The "Decision" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee proposed that the general goal of comprehensively advancing the law-based governance of the country is to build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and to build a socialist country under the rule of law. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core requires that, under the leadership of the CPC, we must adhere to the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, implement the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and form a complete system of legal norms, an efficient system of law enforcement, a rigorous system of legal oversight, and a powerful system of legal guarantees, as well as a perfected system of internal Party regulations. We must persist in the coordinated advancement of law-based governance, law-based exercise of power, and law-based administration, and maintain the integrated construction of a law-based state, government, and society. We must realize scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial justice, and universal law-abidance, thereby promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee further proposed improving the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and comprehensively promoting the law-based conduct of all aspects of national work. This series of major theoretical and practical achievements marks China’s comprehensive shift from "building a system of laws with Chinese characteristics" to "building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics."

As an original conceptual marker within Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics serves as a "window" manifesting its theoretical quality and strategic depth. From "legal system" (fanzhi ^[14]) to "rule of law" (fazhi ^[15]), and from a "system of laws" to a "system of rule of law," there is a difference of only one character in Chinese, yet their connotations differ vastly. "Legal system" emphasizes a static system of institutions such as laws, regulations, and rules; "rule of law" more heavily emphasizes the principles, methods, and activities that permeate the entire process of governance. While the "socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics" points toward a system of legal norms and institutions in a static sense, the "socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics" emphasizes that comprehensively governing the country according to the law is a systemic project. It requires the integrated planning of the system of legal norms, the system of rule of law implementation, the system of rule of law oversight, the system of rule of law guarantees, and the system of intra-Party regulations, placing greater focus on systematicity, holism, and synergy. This shift vividly reflects that comprehensively governing the country according to the law is a profound revolution in national governance. It fully demonstrates that the construction of the rule of law in China is achieving a comprehensive leap from "formulating good laws" to "promoting good governance," providing our Party with a deeper understanding and mastery of the laws governing the construction of a socialist state under the rule of law. It offers an action guide to better exert the role of the rule of law in consolidating foundations, stabilizing expectations, and bringing long-term benefits, and will surely lead us in building a modern socialist country in all respects on the track of the rule of law, writing a magnificent new chapter in advancing Chinese-path modernization through the construction of a Rule of Law China.

The socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a major innovative achievement that firmly grasps the "Six Must-Persists" ^[16] and uses scientific methods and dialectical thinking to answer a series of fundamental questions concerning the construction of the rule of law. It profoundly reflects the worldview and methodology that permeate Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

The report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC systematically expounded the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, in which the "Six Must-Persists" constitute essential content. We must persist in putting the people first, persist in self-confidence and self-reliance, persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, persist in a problem-oriented approach, persist in a systems concept, and persist in maintaining a global vision. These "Six Must-Persists" are also the positions, viewpoints, and methods that run through Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, providing the "golden key" to answering the series of major questions faced during the construction of the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

We must persist in putting the people first, clearly answering major questions such as "for whom" the country is comprehensively governed according to the law. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "The most extensive and profound foundation for comprehensively governing the country according to the law is the people; we must persist in doing it for the people and by relying on the people." This is determined by the nature and purpose of the Communist Party of China, and is a fundamental requirement of the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics as the legal manifestation of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by standing firmly on the side of the people, upholding the people’s principal position, and implementing the manifestation of the people’s interests, the reflection of their aspirations, the protection of their rights, and the enhancement of their welfare throughout the entire process of building the socialist system of rule of law—taking practical action to maintain social fairness and justice—can the masses truly feel that fairness and justice are by their side. In particular, we must focus on resolving prominent problems that damage the interests of the masses. We must never allow the ignoring of public reports or requests for help, never allow ordinary citizens to be unable to afford lawsuits, never allow the abuse of power to infringe upon the legitimate rights of the masses, and never allow law enforcement to break the law and cause wrongful convictions. We must ensure that the people feel fairness and justice in every legal institution, every law enforcement decision, and every judicial case.

We must persist in self-confidence and self-reliance, clearly answering major questions such as "which is greater, the Party or the law?" and "which is greater, power or the law?" General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Party leadership and the socialist rule of law are consistent; socialist rule of law must persist in Party leadership, and Party leadership must rely on the socialist rule of law." A small number of people with ulterior motives hype the pseudo-proposition of "which is greater, the Party or the law." Its essence is to artificially create an opposition that does not fundamentally exist, attempting to sever Party leadership from the rule of law, interfere with the construction of the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and ultimately negate or cancel Party leadership and the socialist rule of law. On this matter, we cannot be ambiguous or vague; we must be clear that the Party and the law, and Party leadership and governing the country according to the law, are not in opposition but are highly unified. Regarding Party and government organizations and leading officials at all levels, however, "which is greater, power or the law?" is a real proposition. They must obey and abide by the Constitution and the law, and cannot use Party leadership as a shield for replacing the law with personal words, suppressing the law with power, or bending the law for personal gain. No matter who is involved, any violation of the law must be prosecuted according to the law.

We must persist in upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, clearly answering the major question of why "only when governing the Party according to regulations enters the hearts of the Party can governing the country according to the law enter the hearts of the people." General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "We are engaged in a great undertaking without predecessor. Only by upholding the fundamentals can we avoid losing our way or making subversive mistakes; only through innovation can we grasp and lead the times." For our Party to fulfill its major historical mission of governing and rejuvenating the country, to win the victory of the great struggle with many new historical characteristics ^[17], and to achieve long-term peace and stability for the Party and the state, we must persist in the coordinated advancement and integrated construction of governing the country according to the law and institutional Party governance/governing the Party according to regulations. As the basic method for the Party’s self-governance and the basic strategy for the Party leading the people in governing the country, these two possess an inherent unity. A major innovation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is the inclusion of a perfected system of intra-Party regulations as an important component of the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics. We must improve the systems and mechanisms for formulating intra-Party regulations, striving to form a pattern where national laws and intra-Party regulations complement, promote, and guarantee each other, using the entire Party’s compliance with regulations and discipline to lead the whole of society in abiding by the law.

We must persist in a problem-oriented approach, clearly answering major questions such as why "the rule of law is the best business environment" and "cyberspace is not a place beyond the law." Problems are the voice of the times; answering and guiding the resolution of prominent contradictions and problems faced in practice is the core task of theory. To build the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics, we must focus on prominent rule-of-law problems and weak links that concern the Party Central Committee and provoke strong public reaction. We must look toward modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity, consolidating foundations, leveraging advantages, mending shortfalls, and strengthening weak points. For example, regarding prominent problems in the business environment, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law clarifies that the rule of law is the best business environment, using legal means to provide equal protection for the property rights and legitimate interests of all types of economic entities and breaking down various barriers to the equal use of productive forces and fair participation in market competition. Another example: regarding the frequent occurrence of illegal acts such as cyber fraud, online rumors, cyber violence, and infringement of personal privacy, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law clarifies that cyberspace is not a "place beyond the law." It requires strengthening the governance of cyberspace according to the law, cracking down on cybercrimes, and jointly maintaining peace and security in cyberspace, ensuring the internet operates healthily on the track of the rule of law so that the "greatest variable" of the internet becomes the "greatest increment" for the development of our cause.

We must persist in a systems concept, clearly answering major questions such as why "reform and the rule of law are like the two wings of a bird or the two wheels of a cart." Chinese-path modernization has been continuously advanced through reform and opening up, and will surely open up broad prospects through further reform. Handling the relationship between reform and the rule of law is an inherent requirement for further comprehensively deepening reform and an important requirement for building the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics. We must persist in the unity of reform and the rule of law, advancing reform under the rule of law, leveraging its role in guiding, promoting, regulating, and guaranteeing reform. We must ensure that major reforms have a legal basis, aligning reform measures and decisions with legislative needs and suggestions. We must be adept at using rule-of-law thinking and methods to solve reform puzzles and consolidate reform achievements, ensuring reform proceeds smoothly on the track of the rule of law. We must also persist in perfecting the rule of law through reform, improving the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics by deepening reforms in the legal field, breaking down institutional barriers, and resolving prominent contradictions. We must strive to achieve the deep integration of comprehensively deepening reform and comprehensively governing the country according to the law, better leveraging the twin-engine role of reform and the rule of law.

We must persist in maintaining a global vision, clearly answering the major question of why we must "coordinatedly advance domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law." When the Great Way prevails, the world is shared by all ^[18]. Persisting in a global vision reflects the Communist Party of China’s commitment to the eternal cause of the Chinese nation and the noble cause of human peace and development. Currently, changes in the world, the times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. General Secretary Xi Jinping, coordinating the overall strategy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world's profound changes unseen in a century, has creatively proposed the major strategic deployment of coordinatedly advancing domestic and foreign-related rule of law. Building the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics must comprehensively consider and utilize both international and domestic markets, resources, and rules. We must further accelerate the strategic layout of foreign-related rule of law work, promote the construction of a legal system for the extraterritorial application of our laws, and use legislative, law enforcement, and judicial means to conduct struggles. We must enrich and perfect our legal "toolbox" to effectively respond to challenges, prevent risks, and counter suppression. We must resolutely oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and acts of hegemony and bullying, firmly safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, thereby creating favorable legal conditions and an external environment for building a modern socialist country in all respects.

The socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a major innovative achievement that always keeps the "top priorities of the nation" (Guo zhi da zhe) in mind to advance the comprehensive governance of the country according to the law through a scientific theoretical system that is systematic, comprehensive, logically rigorous, rich in connotation, and internally unified. It profoundly reflects the core tasks proposed by Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law with the goal of building a Rule of Law China at a higher level.

The socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the legal cornerstone of the "Governance of China." The "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed "perfecting the socialist system of rule of law with Chinese characteristics" and made comprehensive deployments regarding deepening reform in the legislative field and other areas. We must focus closely on perfecting this system, comprehensively implementing the Constitution, safeguarding its authority, and coordinately advancing reforms in legislation, law enforcement, justice, and law-abiding behavior. We must improve the mechanism for ensuring everyone is equal before the law, promote the socialist spirit of the rule of law, maintain social fairness and justice, and comprehensively advance the legalization of all aspects of national work. From the perspective of the rule of law, we must provide institutionalized solutions for a series of problems faced in the development of the cause of the Party and the state, continuously manifesting the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In terms of accelerating the formation of a complete system of legal norms: We must strengthen the Party’s leadership over legislative work and improve the legislative pattern characterized by Party committee leadership, People’s Congress dominance, government reliance, and multi-party participation. We must strengthen legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields, focusing on gaps and points of conflict in the legal system, and improving the legal institutions urgently needed for national governance and essential for meeting the people's growing needs for a better life. We must lose no time in researching legal systems for new technologies and applications, timely filling rule loopholes to guarantee the healthy development of new business forms and models through good laws and good governance. We must promote scientific, democratic, and law-based legislation, coordinating the enactment, revision, abolition, interpretation, and codification of laws to enhance the systematicity, holism, synergy, and timeliness of legislation, thereby safeguarding the unity, dignity, and authority of the national legal system.

In terms of accelerating the formation of an efficient system of rule of law implementation: We must improve the institutional system for ensuring the comprehensive implementation of the Constitution and establish a reporting system for its implementation. We must deeply advance administration according to the law; ensure that government functions, powers, procedures, and responsibilities are statutory; and promote the standardization, regulation, and facilitation of government services. We must deepen the reform of the administrative law enforcement system to earnestly safeguard public interests, people’s rights, and social order. We must improve the systems and mechanisms for fair law enforcement and justice, ensuring that supervisory, public security, procuratorial, trial, and judicial administrative organs each perform their duties while the powers of supervision, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution cooperate with and restrain each other. We must deepen and standardize judicial transparency and implement and perfect the judicial responsibility system. We must strengthen the construction of socialist rule-of-law culture, promoting rule-of-law awareness throughout society to create an atmosphere where abiding by the law is honorable and breaking it is disgraceful, making the respecting, learning, abiding by, and using of the law the common pursuit and conscious action of all people.

In terms of accelerating the formation of a rigorous system of rule of law oversight: We must improve a supervisory system under the unified leadership of the Party that is comprehensive, authoritative, and efficient. We must form a supervisory pattern led by intra-Party supervision, in which supervision by the People’s Congress, democratic supervision, administrative supervision, judicial supervision, auditing supervision, accounting supervision, statistical supervision, mass supervision, and public opinion supervision are organically integrated and coordinated, enhancing the seriousness, synergy, and effectiveness of oversight. We must strengthen supervision over legislative, administrative, supervisory, and judicial powers, reinforcing the restriction and oversight of power exercise, and consciously accepting supervision from the masses, ensuring that power is exercised under oversight and operates in the sunlight.

In terms of accelerating the formation of a robust system of rule of law safeguards, we must improve the political, institutional, ideological, organizational, operational, and talent-based guarantee systems and mechanisms for the rigorous implementation of the rule of law. Party committees at all levels must effectively strengthen their leadership over rule of law work; Party groups (dangzu) in legislative, law enforcement, and judicial organs at all levels must strengthen leadership and fulfill their duties and responsibilities. We must persist in building a high-quality workforce of rule of law personnel possessing both professional competence and moral integrity, improve the practice-oriented education and training mechanisms in law schools, and strive to cultivate and produce a large number of high-quality rule of law talents and reserve forces. We must ensure that leading cadres—as the "key few" ^[19]—play a pivotal role in the comprehensive law-based governance of the country. We should comprehensively build "smart rule of law," making full use of modern technological means such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence to comprehensively enhance the levels of digitalization and intelligence in "Rule of Law China."

In terms of accelerating the formation of a complete system of intra-Party regulations, we must persist in combining a goal-oriented approach with a problem-oriented approach. In accordance with the principles of coordinating the "regulation of subjects, regulation of behavior, and regulation of supervision," we will continuously improve the system of intra-Party regulations and systems. This framework is based on the Party Constitution, supported by subordinate regulations regarding Party organization, Party leadership, the Party's own development (self-building), and Party supervision and safeguards. We must focus on the connection and coordination between intra-Party regulations and national laws, place greater emphasis on improving the implementation of intra-Party regulations, and strive to form synergy and efficiency in the governance of the country.

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a major innovative achievement that takes into overall consideration the "two overall situations" ^[20] and points the correct direction for the reform of the global governance system through good laws and good governance. It profoundly reflects the global significance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law in contributing Chinese wisdom and providing Chinese solutions for the progress of human legal civilization.

The rule of law is an important achievement of human civilization; it is not the exclusive property of Western countries. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "There are no identical political system models in the world. Political systems cannot be judged in the abstract, divorced from specific socio-political conditions and historical-cultural traditions; they cannot be 'set in one single mold' ^[21], and foreign political system models cannot be copied mechanically." By the same token, the rule of law system—as the manifestation of a political system within the legal field—cannot and will not be set in a single mold.

Whether the shoe fits can only be determined by the wearer; the evaluation of a path for the rule of law depends on whether the ordinary people have a sense of gain, happiness, and security. For over 100 years, the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in an unremitting struggle for freedom, equality, justice, and the rule of law. In a country like China, which had thousands of years of feudal history and became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society in modern times, the Party successfully opened the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. By constructing a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the Party has provided a powerful legal guarantee for creating the miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability—both rare in world history. This transformed a once fragmented and broken nation into one of the most efficiently governed, most broadly democratic, and safest countries for its people. This fully demonstrates that the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the only correct path for building a socialist country under the rule of law. This system has created a new form of human legal civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom to the progress of human legal civilization, providing Chinese solutions for the reform of the global governance system, and offering beneficial experience for other countries—especially the vast number of developing countries—to independently explore their own paths toward the rule of law.

The rule of law is a vital component of a nation’s core competitiveness. The world today is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century. Hegemonic, domineering, and bullying acts—such as the strong preying on the weak, forceful appropriation, and zero-sum games—are causing grave harm, and human society faces unprecedented challenges. At the same time, our country is in a critical period for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, with arduous and heavy tasks regarding reform, development, and stability. The relationship between China and the world is undergoing profound changes, and the interconnection and interaction between our country and the international community have become tighter than ever before. China's influence on the world has never been as comprehensive, profound, and long-lasting as it is today; the world's attention on China has never been as extensive, deep, and focused. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "As China moves toward the world and participates in international affairs as a responsible major power, it must be adept at utilizing the rule of law." An important aspect of building the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is to establish a global perspective, using legal means to persist in true multilateralism and jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism. We must resolutely safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We must further improve our ability to scientifically use the rule of law to safeguard our country's sovereignty, security, and development interests. Simultaneously, we must actively participate in the formulation of international rules, promote the democratization and legalization of international relations, and actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system. We will push global governance toward a more just and reasonable direction, promoting global good governance through international good laws, assisting in the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, and injecting powerful Chinese strength into the progress of human legal civilization.

When good laws are established for the world, the world will be well-governed ^[22]. The rule of law is an important guarantee for Chinese-path modernization; without the support of the rule of law, there can be no national rejuvenation. The long river of history flows on unceasingly. On the new journey, we must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, continuously improve the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, accelerate the construction of a socialist country under the rule of law, and continuously open up new horizons for the comprehensive law-based governance of the country. We must continue to struggle to secure even greater victories and glory for socialist rule of law construction.

(The author is a researcher at the Xi Jinping Institute of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Renmin University of China)