CPC newspaper praises judicial transparency

The flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday ran an opinion piece praising the increased transparency that has been shown in influential court cases.

"Openness in court trials has reflected the interaction between the judicial system and the public," said a commentary written by Wang Xu, an associate professor at the Law School of Renmin University.

Wang spoke highly of the accessibility of information in several cases, including the trial of former Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun.

Liu stood trial in a Beijing court on June 9 on charges of bribery and abusing power. The court held a news briefing after the trial.

Wang said efforts to embrace openness are a response to public concerns, adding that such concerns can only be defused by making every trial open and transparent.

The commentary also commended recent efforts to probe misjudged cases.

A court in east China's Zhejiang Province on Tuesday overturned sentences for five men who were convicted of robbing and killing two taxi drivers 18 years ago.

On April 25, a farmer named Li Huailiang in central China's Henan Province was found not guilty of murder and rape and was released after spending 12 years in detention.

Justice that has been restored in individual cases will improve the image of China's judicial system, the commentary said.