Xi marks Constitution Day

Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday reiterated the importance of Constitution-centered governance and called for better awareness of the Charter and the rule of law, ahead of Thursday's first Constitution Day.

Xi made the remarks at a meeting with the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Publicity Department, the National People's Congress Standing Committee and the Ministry of Justice, aimed at promoting the "Constitutional spirit."

Xi noted that the Constitution guarantees the socialist path with Chinese characteristics, adding that the rule of law must be in harmony with the Constitution.

Xi also pointed out that the authority of the Constitution, which embodies the will of the Party and the people, must be safeguarded.

The Constitution of China conforms to national conditions and realities, and is consistent with the times, he added.

Constitution Day, which falls on December 4, was set up by the country's top legislature on November 1 this year after the initiative was proposed in a key meeting of the CPC in October on comprehensively advancing the rule of law.

It is the first time in CPC history that an entire plenary session was devoted to address the rule of law as the ruling party's policy.

"Xi's remarks demonstrate the government's determination to implement the rule of law, to ensure the Party's long-term governance," Qin Qianhong, a law professor at Wuhan University in Central China's Hubei Province, told the Global Times.

The Party has been facing great challenges including rising corruption, which cannot be solved by administrative measures alone, Qin said.

Official media such as the Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily also ran commentaries on Wednesday to mark Constitution Day.

The People's Daily warned in its editorial that the country would be chaotic if it were ruled by man instead of by law.

People in ancient times often hang their hopes of a prosperous society on a few "wise rulers," but the country often fell into chaos after the "wise men" passed away, the editorial said.

"Upholding the Constitution shows progress in governance and in the rule of law," the editorial said.

Zhang Dejiang, the chairman of the 12th National People's Congress Standing Committee, said at the conference that Constitution education should be long-term.

Nationwide activities to promote the Constitution will be held on December 4.

Students across the country will read the Constitution in the morning on that day, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education on November 26.

Hainan provincial education authorities announced on Wednesday that the Constitution will be included in its local junior high entrance examinations in 2015, according to local media reports.

Xinhua contributed to this story