**Editor’s Note:**
Celebrating 75 years of resilience and progress, our Party has united the people to create a magnificent historical narrative, forging a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that aligns with our national realities.
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Theory Network of Learning Times launched a series of video programs titled “Resounding China: Learning Q&A (Season 1) – Why Do We Insist on This Path?” starting October 1. This series features ten experts from the Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to interpret the key pathways of China’s development.
**Featured Expert:**
Cao Liu, Vice Dean of the Research Institute of Rule of Law and Government at China University of Political Science and Law, Professor, and PhD Supervisor.
**Current Topic:**
Why is it said that comprehensively advancing the rule of law in our country represents a profound revolution in national governance?
**On-Site Recording:**
**Host:**
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that “comprehensively advancing the rule of law is a profound revolution in national governance, related to the ruling party, national prosperity, the happiness and well-being of the people, and the long-term peace and stability of the Party and the state.” Professor Cao, could you elaborate on the deep significance of the statement that “comprehensively advancing the rule of law is a profound revolution in national governance”?
**Cao Liu:**
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party, the leadership of the Party, centered around Xi Jinping, has incorporated comprehensive rule of law into the strategic layout of the “Four Comprehensives,” moving steadily forward and initiating a new era of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary Xi has repeatedly emphasized that “comprehensively advancing the rule of law is a systematic project, a broad and profound revolution in the field of national governance.” He further stated that “comprehensive rule of law is a long-term and significant historical task; it is necessarily a profound social transformation and historical change.” The 19th National Congress further enhanced the role of comprehensive rule of law as a fundamental strategy for adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, declaring it a profound revolution in governance. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th National Congress pointed out that comprehensively advancing the rule of law is one of the standout advantages of our national system and governance structure, highlighting the need to perfect the socialist rule of law system.
The 20th National Congress officially ushered in a new journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation via Chinese-style modernization, placing comprehensive rule of law prominently in the development strategy of the Party and the state. For the first time, the report dedicated a whole chapter to this topic, asserting that comprehensive rule of law is essential for promoting socialism and laying the groundwork for a modern socialist country. It encapsulates decades of experience and wisdom in governance, illustrating our Party’s innovative and progressive theory and practice of law. The assertion that “comprehensively advancing the rule of law is a profound revolution in national governance” underscores the political and historical significance of the rule of law in modern nation-building.
Understanding this assertion boils down to comprehending the relationship between comprehensive rule of law and the modernization of national governance. Rule of law serves as the foundation and crucial support for national governance. The system of governance includes the institutional frameworks for managing various fields such as the economy, politics, culture, society, ecological civilization, and Party building, all under the Party’s leadership. With our society in a new era, the primary social contradictions have undergone profound changes, leading to an increasing public demand for a better life and a heightened expectation of rule of law from the Party and the government. General Secretary Xi has profoundly noted that only comprehensive rule of law can effectively ensure the systematic, normative, and coordinated nature of the national governance system, while maximizing societal consensus. By promoting sound legislation, strict law enforcement, just judicial processes, and law-abiding practices among all citizens, we can ensure that all undertakings align with the framework of law, providing essential and sustained institutional guarantees for the Party and the state’s development.
Modernizing the governance system and enhancing governance capacity hinge on achieving rule of law modernization. General Secretary Xi highlights that “a modernized country must inevitably be a rule-of-law country.” From the goals of comprehensive deepening reforms outlined at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th National Congress to the focus on improving the Chinese socialist system and advancing governance modernization at the Fourth Plenary Session, our Party emphasizes the importance of institutional development and governance capability. It’s crucial to advance governance modernization through legal pathways as part of our broader mission toward socialism and national rejuvenation. The modernization process brings profound changes and adjustments to vested interests, making the rule of law vital in coordinating the complex relationships that arise.
Advancing the rule of law is key to improving national governance, and we must consistently leverage the system’s advantages and governance efficiency, threading the principles of good law and governance throughout every aspect of statecraft. This is essential in releasing and elevating social vitality, promoting justice and fairness, maintaining social stability, and ensuring the long-term peace and stability of the Party and the state.
**Host:**
What should we understand about the concept of “profound revolution”?
**Cao Liu:**
The term “profound revolution” reflects our Party’s commitment and founding mission. Comprehensive rule of law embodies the revolutionary courage, thought, and spirit of our Party. The report from the 20th National Congress stated: “Deeply promote the new great project of Party building in the new era, leading social revolution through self-revolution.” The essence of our Party, as a Marxist political entity, is its willingness to self-revolutionize. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party has been promoting self-revolution with a focus on legal principles, integrating the lawful governance of the Party with rule of law practices, thereby establishing a robust internal regulatory framework and a supporting system for effective implementation.
Leading social revolution through self-revolution is not only essential for advancing the great project of Party building but also a necessary choice for fulfilling the comprehensive requirements for Party construction in the new era. Developing a perfect internal regulatory system and steadfastly promoting rule-based governance within the Party are critical aspects of our self-revolution and the advancement of comprehensive rule of law. General Secretary Xi stressed that we should leverage the complementary nature of both rule of law in governance and internal regulation, ensuring the Party leads with both constitutional law and Party regulations.
Through the effective integration of state laws and Party regulations, we can reinforce institutional integrity, advancing self-revolution within the Party and providing necessary support and guarantees for the broader social revolution. The notion of “profound revolution” demands unwavering adherence to Party leadership in advancing comprehensive rule of law, ensuring that we carry this revolution through to completion.
The Party’s leadership is the soul of our socialist rule of law and is the fundamental guarantee for advancing comprehensive rule of law. It is essential that we maintain Party leadership, fully leveraging the Central Party’s coordinating role across all sectors, ensuring its influence permeates all governance processes—from legislation and enforcement to judicial support and adherence to law.
