thepracticeofruleoflawinchina.docVIP

The Practice of Rule of Law in China by Dr. Dong Dasheng Deputy Auditor General of National Audit Office of China Ever since the end of 1970s when China initiated its reform and opening up policy, profound changes have taken place in economic, political and social aspects。The socialist market economy has taken shape 。At the same time, China has pressed on with political system reform including to improve socialist democracy and to establish socialist political civilization. Entering the new century, China has also set down a magnificent objective of building a well-off society in an all-round way in the first twenty years of 21st century. The rule of law is the main content of the socialist democracy。So it is one core task of the reform of political system。 The full implementation of rule of law also serves the solid foundation for maintaining socialist market economy。 Over the past two decades since the initiation of reform and opening up policy, with the objectives of “there are laws to go by, the laws are observed and strictly enforced, and law-breakers are prosecuted”, China has intensified its efforts in the road to the implementation of the rule of law and scored notable progress. In 1999, at the 2nd Session of the 9th National People’s Congress, one section about the concept of rule of law is approved to be added to Article Five of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, namely: “The Peoples Republic of China practices ruling the country in accordance with the law and building a socialist country of law.” This new provision has clearly defined ruling the country by law as the basic principle。China has been doing hard to carry out this principle。It can be seen from following 5 aspects。 1. The socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics has taken up initially. The principle of ruling the country in accordance with the law calls for the strengthening of legislation and formulation of a comprehensive and clear-cut system of laws. Acc