Citizens watch billboards on rule of law during an activity of Constitution Day in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Dec. 4, 2014. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
-- Xi said fairness and justice are the lifeline of the rule of law.
-- The ultimate goal of China's rule of law is to protect the interests of the people.
-- "The reason why we advance law-based governance in all respects and take measures to unswervingly enforce the rule of law is for the sake of generations to come and long-term development," Xi stressed.
BEIJING, Nov. 18 -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its first central conference on work related to overall law-based governance this week.
At the event, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law was described as the guideline for advancing China's overall law-based governance.
The rule of law is also a key term in a new development blueprint drawn up by the Party leadership for the country's march toward modernization.
"The goal of building a country, government and society based on the rule of law shall be basically achieved by 2035," according to the plan. By that time, China is also expected to have basically achieved socialist modernization.
A NEW ERA
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has consistently championed the rule of law throughout his political career.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking and new strategies to advance law-based governance in all respects.
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law was first unveiled in full and in detail in October 2014, when the 18th CPC Central Committee held its fourth plenary session, focusing on law-based governance.
The goal was set: developing a socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics and building a socialist rule of law country. The basic framework for law-based governance was specifically laid out.
Xi said fairness and justice are the lifeline of the rule of law, and he demanded fostering the rule of law for the people, by the people.
He said power must be exercised in an institutional cage, and administrative bodies should not do things not mandated by law.
"Just one wrongly-adjudicated case can ruin the reputation accumulated through the fair trials of 99 cases," Xi said.
