Xi bolsters rule of law in foreign affairs

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has highlighted the significance of strengthening China’s foreign-related legal system and its capacity in alignment with the nation’s high-quality development and opening-up.
He made the remarks while chairing a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the Party’s core leadership, in Beijing on Monday.
The session’s participants listened to a lecture given by Huang Huikang, a professor at Wuhan University and former Chinese ambassador to Malaysia, before sharing their views. Xi stressed that bolstering the rule of law in foreign affairs serves both the long-term need for building a strong nation and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization and the pressing task of advancing high-level opening-up and addressing external risks and challenges.
He underlined the legal system related to foreign affairs as the foundation for the rule of law in the sector.
The fundamental purpose for advancing law-based governance in foreign-related affairs is to better safeguard the interests of the country and the people through legal means, promote progress in international rule of law and facilitate the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, he said.
Xi underscored the importance of well-structured top-level design, adding that foreign-related legislation, law enforcement, jurisdiction, law compliance and legal services should be advanced simultaneously. In doing so, the nation must give priority to legislation and make simultaneous efforts in the making, amendment, repeal and interpretation of laws so that a systematic and sound legal system can be established, he said.
The general secretary urged steps to build an efficient system to put in place the rule of law in foreign affairs, including measures to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement and jurisdiction, promote reforms in the judicial and trial system, and improve the credibility of foreign-related jurisdiction.
China must proactively build up its legal services related to foreign affairs and foster globally leading arbitration institutions and law firms, he said.
Xi highlighted the necessity to deepen international cooperation in law enforcement and jurisdiction, step up consular protection and assistance, and build a legal security chain to protect China’s overseas interests.
It is important to raise the awareness of legal compliance, including guiding Chinese citizens and enterprises to abide by local laws and regulations and customs when going abroad, and that they should apply laws and rules to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, he said.
Xi reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to firmly uphold the international order based on international law, actively participate in the formulation of international rules, and promote the rule of law in international relations. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item