CPC sets new blueprint for rule of law(3)

"Efforts to adhere to the rule of law should give priority to the rule of Constitution, and to adhere to the governing by law should put the governing in line with Constitution in the first place," said the communique.

The system to ensure the implementation of the Constitution and to supervise the implementation should be improved, it said.

The National People's Congress and its Standing Committee, meanwhile, should play a better role in supervising the Constitution's implementation, the communique added.

Moreover, procedural and systemic rules regarding the interpretation of the Constitution should be improved, the communique said, urging those with national and local leadership positions in legislature to have their legislative power ensured.

PARTY LEADERSHIP

Thursday's communique also highlighted once again that the country will ensure the CPC's leading role in its quest toward rule of law, citing the Party's leadership "the most fundamental guarantee" in the process.

"The CPC's leadership is consistent with the socialist rule of law," it said.

The rule of law needs the CPC's leadership while the CPC's rule depends on the rule of law, the document further explained.

Defined by the Constitution as the country's leader, the Party should take the lead in all aspects of promoting the rule of law, it said.

"Only if the CPC rules the country in line with the law, will people's rights as the master of the nation be realized and the state and social affairs be handled in line with law," the statement said.

Prof. Ma from China University of Political Science and Law stressed that to advance the rule of law is also to reinforce the leadership by the CPC, not weaken it.

"The leadership by the CPC has been enshrined in the country's Constitution and to ensure the leadership is a natural requirement in the course of promoting rule of law," Ma said.

He noted that efforts to adhere to governing by law should be a basic pattern of CPC's leading the public to govern the country.

"The CPC, as the country's ruling party, must take the lead in advancing the rule of law, and itself must act and use its power in line with the Constitution and law," he added.

Meanwhile, the communique added that the rule of law not only requires the CPC to rule the country in line with law but also to manage itself in line with Party rules and disciplines.

The communique called for improved regulations and system of the Party to strengthen self-discipline and required Party members to take the lead in abiding by state laws.

The effectiveness of implementing rule of law will be a significant index in judging the work of officials at various levels and will be added to their performance appraisal system, the communique read.

It called on all Party members to help implement the CPC Central Committee's major decisions of comprehensively deepening reform and promoting rule of law, and to have the "strategic willpower" to maintain sustained and sound economic development, improve people's livelihoods, clear up undesirable work style and be strict with its members.