Xi: Bolster rule of law in foreign affairs

Taking these steps better safeguards interests of nation and people, he says

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 general secretary pointed out that the rule of law goes hand in hand with opening-up, saying that greater strides in opening-up must be coupled with the construction of legal systems related to foreign affairs.

He stressed that the rule of law is the best business environment, and it is necessary to optimize an open and transparent legal system related to foreign affairs, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested businesses.

China must actively align with and adopt high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand institutional opening-up and enhance the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, he said.

He called for steps to optimize measures and relevant laws and regulations to make it easier for expatriates to live in China.