A new era breeds new ideas, and new ideas guide new practices. Since the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies concerning the rule of law while involved in leading the great practice of the comprehensive rule of law (全面依法治国), innovating and developing the theory of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. The formulation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is a new development and a leap forward in the sinicization of Marxist theory on the rule of law. In November 2020, the Central Work Conference on the Comprehensive Rule of Law formally and clearly put forward Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and established it as the guiding ideology for the comprehensive rule of law in the new era. This was a milestone in the history of the development of Marxist theory on the rule of law and the history of the construction of the socialist rule of law in China. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is a scientific theoretical system rich in connotations and with profound exposition, rigorous logic, and a complete system. It is the latest achievement of the sinicization of Marxist theory on the rule of law. It is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is the fundamental guide to be followed and acted on for the comprehensive rule of law. 

I. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is a Scientific Theoretical System with Rich Connotations and a Complete System

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has a scientific theoretical form, a fresh theoretical style, and dialectical theoretical thinking. From the perspective of the linkage of history and reality, international and domestic correlation, and the combination of theory and practice, it has profoundly answered a series of major questions, such as why the comprehensive rule of law is implemented in the new era and how to implement the comprehensive rule of law. It points out the political direction, important status, work layout, key tasks, important relationships, and important guarantees for the comprehensive governance of the country according to law. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law covers various issues concerning the rule of law, including reform, development, and stability; domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense; and the governance of the party, the country, and the military. Conceptually, it is systematically integrated; logically, it is connected organically; and discursively, it has an original style. It shows a profound theoretical foundation, a rigorous logical structure, and a distinct value orientation. It is the most comprehensive, systematic, and scientific theoretical system of the rule of law in the history of our Party, the history of the People’s Republic of China, and the history of the development of socialism. 

The main content and theoretical essence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law are embodied in the “Eleven Upholds” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Central Work Conference on Comprehensive Rule of Law, which can be theoretically and logically divided into six aspects. 

(i) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Political Direction of Comprehensive Rule of Law

The political direction of comprehensive rule of law determines the success or failure of the construction of the rule of law. The political direction of comprehensive rule of law is concentrated on the issues of who leads the comprehensive rule of law, whom to serve and whom to rely on, and what path to take. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law scientifically answers these fundamental questions and provides scientific guidance, allowing us to improve our political judgment, political comprehension, and political execution in the field of the rule of law. We must be deeply aware that “the leadership of the party is the soul of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and it is the biggest difference between our rule of law and the rule of law in Western capitalist countries” and “to uphold the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the most fundamental thing is to uphold the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.” We must consciously implement the Party’s leadership throughout the entire process and in all aspects of the rule of law and better implement the basic strategy of comprehensive rule of law. We must be deeply aware that “people-centered” is the core value of the socialist rule of law. The broadest and deepest foundation for the comprehensive rule of law is the people, and we must persist in serving and relying on the people. It is necessary to take the purposes of embodying the people’s interests, reflecting the people’s wishes, safeguarding the people’s rights and interests, enhancing the people’s well-being, and promoting the overall development of the people as the starting points and footholds in the construction of the rule of law and continuously enhance the people’s sense of gain, sense of happiness, sense of security, and sense of fairness. We must be deeply aware that “the road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a concentrated expression of the achievements and experience in the construction of socialist rule of law and the only correct way to build a socialist country under the rule of law.” In the practice of building the rule of law, we must consciously uphold the leadership of the party, uphold the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and implement the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. Proceeding from China’s national conditions and reality, we must follow the path to the rule of law that suits us; we must never copy the models and practices of other countries; and we must not follow the so-called “constitutionalism,” “three powers,” and “independent judiciary” of the West. 

(ii) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Important Status of Comprehensive Rule of Law

Proceeding from the long-term considerations of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law profoundly answered the question of why the country should adopt the comprehensive rule of law and scientifically indicated the strategic positioning of comprehensive rule of law. We must be deeply aware that comprehensive rule of law is the basic strategy for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It has a fundamental, leading, and supporting role in the “Five in One” (五位一体) overall layout and the “Four Comprehensives” (四个全面) strategic layout. We must be deeply aware that the comprehensive rule of law is a profound revolution in national governance. We must dare to gnaw hard bones, storm dangerous beaches, and overcome difficulties; drastically promote the reform of the rule of law; and resolutely eliminate all obstacles in the institutions and mechanisms and ideological concepts for governing the country according to law, administering according to law, governing the army according to law, and handling affairs according to law. We must be deeply aware that the comprehensive rule of law is not only an essential requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also an important safeguard of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the new journey of building a modernized socialist country in an all-round way and on the road of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we must pay more attention to the rule of law; better enforce the rule of law; allow the rule of law to better play its important safeguard role in securing the foundation, stabilizing expectations, and conveying long-term benefits; and use the rule of law more effectively to respond to major challenges, resist major risks, overcome major obstacles, and resolve major contradictions. 

(iii) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Work Layout of Comprehensive Rule of Law

In finding ways to promote the comprehensive rule of law, the work layout is the critical thing and the guide. Proceeding from the overall layout and overall strategic situation of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed three theoretical propositions: “uphold the promotion of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity on the track of the rule of law,” “uphold the construction of a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics,” and “uphold the common promotion of national governance, exercise of power, and administration according to law and building a country under the rule of law, a government under the rule of law, and a society under the rule of law in an integrated manner.” This scientifically answered the question of the layout of the comprehensive rule of law, not only pointing out the general goal for the comprehensive rule of law, but also introducing the general starting point for the comprehensive rule of law. We must deeply grasp the strategic thinking, systematic thinking, and dialectical thinking in Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, anchor the overall goal, make good use of our overall grasp, and strive to open up a new situation in the construction of the rule of law in China. 

(iv) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Key Tasks of Comprehensive Rule of Law

While determining the strategy and work layout of comprehensive rule of law, General Secretary Xi Jinping proceeded from the goal of building a modernized socialist country in an all-round way. Proceeding from the actual needs of grasping the new development stage, implementing the new development concept, and building a new development pattern, he put forward the key tasks of comprehensive rule of law for the present and the future. The full implementation of the Constitution is the primary task of comprehensive rule of law. We must uphold the governance and exercise of power based on the Constitution, better demonstrate the power of China’s fundamental law, and allow China’s fundamental law to better play its role. Scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial justice, and respect for the law by all people are the key aspects of the comprehensive rule of law. We must uphold the comprehensive promotion of scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial justice, and respect for the law by all people; continue to advance reforms in the field of the rule of law; and resolve outstanding contradictions and problems in the fields of legislation, law enforcement, justice, and compliance with the law. Domestic rule of law and international rule of law (涉外法治, lit. rule of law involving foreign parties) are the two basic aspects of the construction of the rule of law in China. We must persist in promoting the domestic rule of law and international rule of law in a coordinated manner and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, dignity, and core interests. We must fully grasp the aforementioned key tasks and use key breakthroughs to drive the overall smooth progress of the various tasks of the comprehensive rule of law. 

(v) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Important Relationships of Comprehensive Rule of Law

The comprehensive rule of law involves a series of important dialectical relationships. How we correctly understand and handle these major dialectical relationships has an influence on the road to the rule of law, the effectiveness of the rule of law, and the success or failure of the rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping, with his lofty political wisdom and precise and sophisticated dialectical thinking, has deeply analyzed the relationship between political and legal affairs and the rule of law, democracy and dictatorship, reform and the rule of law, development and security, the rule of law and the rule of virtue, and the rule of law and the rule of the Party and has made scientific expositions on each one. In this way, he has clarified the vague understanding and wrong views on these issues and clearly interpreted the Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods for the correct understanding and handling of these relationships 

(vi) Theoretical Viewpoints on the Important Guarantees of Comprehensive Rule of Law

The comprehensive rule of law requires a strong and powerful system of guarantees, including political guarantees, institutional guarantees, ideological guarantees, organizational guarantees, talent guarantees, operational guarantees, and scientific and technological guarantees. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly expounded various guarantee issues related to the comprehensive rule of law. Among them, based on the basic concepts of using talents to strengthen the country and strengthen the law, he emphasized that the comprehensive rule of law must focus on the construction of a rule-of-law work team. We must grasp the “critical minority” of leading cadres; attach importance to the key role of leading cadres; and require leading cadres at all levels to take the lead in respecting the rule of law, respecting the law, understanding the law, and mastering the law. We must continuously improve the ability to use rule-of-law thinking and methods to deepen reforms; promote development; resolve contradictions; maintain stability; and respond to risks and become a model of respect for law, study of law, compliance with law, and use of law. 

II. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is the Latest Achievement in the Sinicization of Marxist Theory on the Rule of Law

The formation and development of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law embody the theoretical logic of Marxist theory on the rule of law that is derived from the same root and keeps pace with the times. “In the history of human thought, no ideological theory has produced such a broad and profound impact on mankind as Marxism.” “This theory is like a glorious sunrise that illuminates the way by which mankind can explore the laws of history and seek self-liberation.” The Marxist theory on the rule of law is an organic part of the Marxist theoretical system. Its essence runs through the classic works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin. It is a precious spiritual wealth in the history of human legal thought. For the first time, Marx and Engels profoundly revealed the inner connection of law with class and class struggle, the inevitable connection of law with the state and political power, the causal connection of law with the material conditions of society, and the different functions and values of law in the different forms of societies and states. They thoroughly analyzed the basic principles of law, the rule of law, and the science of law; proposed many important thoughts on the rule of law; and established a scientific world outlook, methodology, and theory of value with respect to law. With its distinctive principles of historical materialism, Marxist theory on the rule of law revealed the general law governing the development of human law, analyzed the special law governing the development of the capitalist rule of law, and clarified the fundamental legal principles of communist society. This is a great revolution in the history of human thought and legal science, which has produced a broad and lasting influence. 

From the epoch-making founding of the Party to the world-changing founding of New China to the earth-shaking reform and opening up to the historic achievements and historical changes in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th Party Congress, the members of the CCP have adhered to the integration of the basic principles of Marxism while accounting for the specific reality of China and have continued to promote the sinicization and modernization of Marxism. In this historical process, the CCP members have united and led the people of the whole country through long-term struggle to complete the new democratic revolution and the socialist revolution, establish the People’s Republic of China and the basic socialist system, carry out the arduous exploration of socialist construction, and realize the great leap of the Chinese nation from the sick man of East Asia to standing up. Since reform and opening up, we have carried out the great new practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, enabling China to catch up with the times with great strides and realizing the great leap of the Chinese nation from standing up to becoming prosperous. In the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we must carry out great struggles, build great projects, advance great undertakings, realize great dreams, and promote the Party and the country to realize all-round and groundbreaking historical achievements as well as in-depth and fundamental historical changes. The Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from becoming prosperous to becoming strong. At the same time, with the tremendous changes in Chinese society since the twentieth century and the historic leaps of Marxism, the process of the sinicization of the Marxist theory on the rule of law has been magnificent and has advanced with the times. We are constantly achieving new developments and opening up new realms. 

(i) The Birth of Rule of Law Theory in Mao Zedong Thought Opened the New Process of the Sinicization of Marxist Theory on the Rule of Law

In the great practices of the new democratic revolution and socialist revolution and construction, the members of the CCP, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their main representative, combined the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution to create Mao Zedong Thought. Mao Zedong Thought contains a rich theory of the rule of law. The rule of law theory in Mao Zedong Thought not only opened a new page in the history of Chinese legal thought, but also laid a theoretical foundation for the construction of the new democratic legal system and the socialist legal system. It profoundly expounded the basic theory of the new democratic legal system and pointed out the direction for the construction of the new democratic legal system. It creatively put forward the concept of “internal Party regulations” (党内法规), promoting the standardization and institutionalization of the Party, maintaining the unity of the Party, and gathering the great strength of the Party. It profoundly laid out the basic principles of the socialist state system and legal system and established a theoretical foundation for the construction of a people’s democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants, the government system of the people’s congress system, and the basic system of the state. It incisively expounded on the correct understanding and handling of two types of contradictions of different natures, forming a criminal policy thought with Chinese characteristics. It is precisely under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought on the rule of law that we established a new socialist legal system and ushered in a new era of socialist rule of law; determined the basic political system, economic system, legislative system, and judicial system of socialist New China as well as the basic principles of the socialist legal system; and formulated hundreds of laws, decrees, and regulations to provide the necessary legal basis and guarantees for socialist revolution and construction. 

(ii) The Formation of the Theory of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics Has Written a New Chapter in the Sinicization of Marxist Theory on the Rule of Law

Since the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the CCP, the members of the CCP, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their main representative, summed up the positive and negative experiences since the founding of New China; emancipated their minds; sought truth from facts; realized the shift of the center of the party’s work to economic construction; implemented reform and opening up; gradually formed the routes, guidelines, and policies for building socialism with Chinese characteristics; clarified the basic issues of building socialism and consolidating and developing socialism in China; and established Deng Xiaoping Theory. Since the Fourth Plenum of the 13th Central Committee of the CCP, the members of the CCP, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their main representative, have deepened their understanding of what socialism is, how to build socialism, what kind of Party we build, and how to build the Party in the practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. They accumulated valuable new experience in governing the Party and the country and formed the important thinking of the “Three Represents.” Since the 16th Party Congress, the members of the CCP, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their main representative, have adhered to Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of the “Three Represents” as a guide. In accordance with the new development requirements, they deeply understood and answered major questions about what kind of development to achieve under the new situation and how to develop, and formed the Scientific Development Concept of people-oriented, comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development. Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thinking of the “Three Represents”, and the Scientific Development Concept contain rich theories of the rule of law, which have formed and continuously developed the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. The theory of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics clearly states that the implementation of the “Four Modernizations” must “grasp construction with one hand and the legal system with the other,” and it is necessary to implement the principle of “there are laws to follow, laws must be followed, law enforcement must be strict, violations must be investigated, and everyone is equal before the law.” “Democracy must be institutionalized and legalized so that this system and the law will not be changed due to changes in leaders or due to changes in the views and attention of leaders.” “Rule the country by law and build a socialist country ruled by law,” “we must adhere to the combination of governing the country by law and governing the country by virtue,” “to develop socialist democratic politics, the most fundamental thing is to organically unite upholding the leadership of the Party, the people as the masters of the country, and the rule of law,” “a country governed by law must first be governed by the constitution, and the exercise of power under the rule of law must first be governed by the constitution,” etc. It was precisely under the guidance of the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics that the 1982 Constitution, the current constitution, was promulgated and implemented. This opened a new era of the construction of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. It formed a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics centered on the Constitution; established a legal system that meets the needs of the socialist market economy, democratic politics, advanced culture, harmonious society, ecological civilization, and opening to the outside world; and provided a powerful legal guarantee for reform and opening up and socialist modernization construction in the new era. 

(iii) The Creation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is a New Leap Forward in the Sinicization of Marxist Theory on the Rule of Law

Since the 18th Party Congress, the members of the CCP, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their main representative, have conformed to the development of the times; systematically answered the major issues of the era—what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the new era, and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics—from the combination of theory and practice; and created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the CCP has led the people of all ethnic groups across the country, coordinating the performance of great struggles, great projects, great undertakings, and great dreams and pushing socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new era. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era contains a wealth of theories on the rule of law, providing a concentrated embodiment of our Party’s theoretical innovations in the field of the rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping used his firm will to enforce the rule of law, his talents and strategy to strengthen the country by law, and his foresight in governing the Party in accordance with the rules in the practice of writing a new chapter and opening a new round in the construction of the rule of law in China; deeply answered the major theoretical and practical questions of the comprehensive rule of law in the new era; put forward a series of new ideas and strategies with original, distinctive, and integrated significance for the comprehensive rule of law; and established Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. 

For a long time, General Secretary Xi Jinping has considered and planned the construction of the rule of law from the strategic level of long-term stability and peace of the Party and the country, deepened the theoretical foundation of the comprehensive rule of law, and consolidated the political conviction in strengthening the country by law. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The facts of the development of human society prove that governance according to law is the most reliable and stable governance.”  The issue of the rule of law and the rule of the individual (人治) is a basic issue in the history of human political civilization, and it is also a major issue that all countries must face and resolve in the process of achieving modernization. Looking at the modern history of the world, none of the countries that have successfully achieved modernization have failed to solve the problems of the rule of law and the rule of the individual. On the contrary, although some countries have achieved rapid development for a time, they have not successfully stepped through the threshold of modernization. Instead, they have fallen into this or that ‘trap’ and their economic and social development has stagnated or even regressed. The latter situation is, to a great extent, related to the lack of the rule of law . . .  History is our best teacher. Experience and lessons have made our Party deeply aware that the rule of law is an indispensable and important means of governing the country. The flourishing of the rule of law leads to the flourishing of the country, while the decline of the rule of law leads to chaos in the country. When the rule of law is emphasized and the rule of law flourishes, this is when the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe. When the rule of law is ignored and relaxed, this is when the country will be in chaos and the people will complain. Based on this historical materialist view of the rule of law, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed to “comprehensively govern the country according to law” and incorporated the comprehensive rule of law into the “Four Comprehensives” strategic layout. It went on to become one of the basic strategies for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping emphasized that: We must grasp the place of the comprehensive rule of law in the strategic layout of the ‘Four Comprehensives,’ have a deep understanding of the relationship between the comprehensive rule of law and the other three ‘Comprehensives,’ and strive to achieve the mutual complementarity, promotion, and enhancement of the ‘Four Comprehensives’ . . .  The rule of law is an essential requirement and an important guarantee for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and an inevitable requirement for achieving the modernization of the country’s governance system and governance capacity. If we want to achieve economic development, political clarity, cultural prosperity, social justice, and sound ecology, the rule of law must better play its leading and normative role . . .  We are facing unprecedented tasks of reform, development, and stability as well as unprecedented contradictions, risks, and challenges. The priority of governing the country according to law has become more prominent and its role more important. We must unswervingly implement the basic strategy of governing the country according to law and the basic method of exercising power under the rule of law and unswervingly lead the people in building a socialist country ruled by law . . . The comprehensive promotion of the rule of law is a major strategic task to better govern the country our Party puts forward starting from considerations of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is also an overall issue related to our Party’s governance and the rejuvenation of the nation. The implementation of this major strategic task is of immense significance to promoting sustained and healthy economic development, maintaining social harmony and stability, realizing social fairness and justice, building a well-off society in an all-round way, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.  General Secretary Xi Jinping used this historical materialist strategic thinking on the rule of law to educate the whole Party and the people of the whole country to unswervingly follow the path of strengthening the country by law and allow the rule of law to better play its guarantee role in securing the foundation, stabilizing expectations, and creating long-term benefits. 

In order to further promote the comprehensive rule of law and accelerate the construction of the rule of law in China, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the “Eleven Upholds,” namely: uphold the party’s leadership of the comprehensive rule of law; uphold the people-centered principle; uphold the path of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics; uphold the governance of the country and exercise of power based on the Constitution; uphold the promotion of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity on the track of the rule of law; uphold the construction of a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics; uphold the common promotion of national governance, exercise of power, and administration based on law and the integrated construction of a country ruled by law, a government ruled by law, and a society ruled by law; uphold the overall promotion of scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, fair justice, and respect for the law by all people; uphold the overall promotion of the domestic rule of law and international rule of law; uphold the building of a high-quality legal work team with both ability and political integrity; and uphold the seizing on the “critical minority” of leading cadres. The “Eleven Upholds” is a creative development of the Marxist theory on the rule of law and the theory of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and opened up a new realm for the sinicization of the Marxist theory on the rule of law. 

The 100-year history of the sinicization of Marxist theory on the rule of law fully embodies the fact that the theoretical results of the sinicization of Marxist theory on the rule of law are “scientific theories that are derived from the same root and keep pace with the times.” It fully demonstrates that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has the theoretical character of integrity and innovation. It is an organic unity of science, human nature, and practicality. It is a contemporary Chinese Marxist theory of the rule of law and a twenty-first-century Marxist theory of the rule of law. 

III. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is an Important Part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era 

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. It is the “rule of law chapter” in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. In view of its significance as a strategic component in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, its distinctive theoretical style, its rich scientific connotation, and the practical need to further promote the comprehensive rule of law, the proposal of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has great theoretical and practical significance. 

(i) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is an Important Theoretical Achievement in the Field of the Rule of Law of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era

In his report to the 19th CCP National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the core content of his thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era is the “Eight Clarifications” (“八个明确”) and “Fourteen Commitments” (“十四个坚持”). The “Eight Clarifications” are: clarify the upholding and development socialism with Chinese characteristics, where the overall task is to achieve socialist modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and build a prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful modernized socialist superpower in the middle of this century in two steps on the basis of building a well-off society in an all-round way; clarify that the main contradiction of our society in the new era is the contradiction between the people’s growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and insufficient development, and therefore we must uphold people-centered development thinking and constantly promote the all-round development of people and the common prosperity of all people; clarify that the overall layout of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics is ‘Five in One’ and the strategic layout is the ‘Four Comprehensives’ and emphasize strong confidence in the road, theory, system, and culture; clarify that the overall goals of comprehensively deepening reforms is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity; clarify that the overall goal of advancing the comprehensive rule of law is to build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and a socialist country ruled by law; clarify that the Party’s goal of strengthening the army in the new era is to build a people’s army that listens to the Party’s commands, can win battles, and has a good work style and build the people’s army into a world-class army; clarify that great-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics must promote the construction of a new type of international relations and promote the construction of a community of common destiny for humanity; and clarify that the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the CCP, that the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the CCP, and that the Party is the supreme political leading force that puts forward the general requirements for Party building in the new era, highlighting the important position of political construction in Party construction. The “Fourteen Commitments” are “commit to the Party’s leadership over all work,” “commit to the people as the center,” “commit to comprehensively deepening reforms,” “commit to the new development concept,” “commit to the people being the masters of the country,” “commit to the comprehensive rule of law,” “commit to the core value system of socialism,” “commit to ensuring and improving people’s livelihoods in development,” “commit to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature,” “commit to the overall view of national security,” “commit to the Party’s absolute leadership over the people’s army,” “commit to ‘one country, two systems’ and advance the reunification of the motherland,” “commit promoting the construction of a community of common destiny for humanity,” and “commit to comprehensively and strictly administering the party.” From the perspective of ideological composition, the comprehensive rule of law is one of the “Eight Clarifications” and one of the “Fourteen Commitments.” Not only that, but any other one of the “Eight Clarifications” has a close logical connection with the rule of law, and all have great and far-reaching guiding significance for the rule of law and the construction of the rule of law. Any other one of the “Fourteen Commitments” is also inseparable and closely related to the commitment to the comprehensive rule of law. It can be said that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law runs through all aspects and stages of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, the thesis that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era has ample scientific and practical grounds, as well as major tangible needs. 

(ii) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is an Important Component of the System of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era

Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has been the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party. He has continuously deepened the exploration and understanding of the laws of state governance and continued to summarize the experience and lessons of the Party and the country from the past 100 years since the founding of the Party, the more than 70 years since the founding of New China, and the more than 40 years since reform and opening up. He concluded that strict enforcement of the rule of law and comprehensive rule of law are major strategic issues related to our party’s governance and rejuvenation of the nation, the happiness and well-being of the people, and the long-term stability and peace of the party and the country. It is an important aspect of upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. It is a reliable guarantee for building a modernized socialist superpower and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Our Party has become increasingly aware that “the rule of law is indispensable to the governance of the country.” “If we do not comprehensively govern the country according to law, we will not be able to govern the country well or manage the country well, and our strategic layout will come to nothing.” 

At the Central Work Conference on Comprehensive Rule of Law, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that only comprehensive rule of law can effectively guarantee the systematic, standardized, and coordinated nature of the national governance system and maximize the consolidation of social consensus. The rule of law, as the basic method of governing the country, will inevitably permeate all aspects of economic and social life. At the same time, advancing the comprehensive rule of law is a fundamental requirement for solving a series of major problems facing the development of the Party and the country as well as for liberating and enhancing social vitality, promoting social fairness and justice, maintaining social harmony and stability, and ensuring the long-term stability of the Party and the country. Concerning socialism with Chinese characteristics, the rule of law has a fundamental and safeguarding role. Therefore, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is fundamental and supportive, and it has become an indispensable part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. 

The rule of law and the thought on the rule of law are an important part of the superstructure, which is determined by the economic foundation. At the same time, they react to the economic foundation and even play a decisive role at certain moments. Practice since reform and opening up fully shows that the construction of the rule of law is not only the “rotation” (自转, as in the rotation of a planet on its axis) of the rule of law itself, but also the “revolution” (公转, as in the revolution of a planet around a sun) around the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The biggest feature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is to uphold the rule of law with the world in mind, seek the rule of law based on the overall situation, focus on the rule of law as a whole, and pay attention to the outstanding characteristics of the rule of law in all aspects, along the whole chain and within the whole field, to continuously enhance the influence, radiation, and penetration of the rule of law; to implement the rule of law in all fields, aspects, and stages of reform, development, and stability, internal affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense, and governance of the party, the country, and the military; and to maximize the release of the powerful function of the rule of law in promoting the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is precisely under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law that the basic strategy of governing the country according to law and the basic method of exercising power according to law have always run through the overall layout of “Five in One” and the “Four Comprehensives” strategic layout. It has strongly promoted the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity; strongly guaranteed political stability, economic development, cultural prosperity, national unity, the people’s happiness, social peace, and national unity; and strongly advanced Chinese governance to a new realm of the “governance of China” (中国之治), fully demonstrating the significant advantages of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. This amply demonstrates that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is not only a component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, but also an important component with “Four Beams and Eight Pillars” (四梁八柱) significance. 

(iii) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is an Important Theoretical Plank of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era

In terms of logical connections, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era have the relationship of a part to the whole. We must recognize and understand the relationship between the part and the whole of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era through systematic thinking, a holistic perspective, and a thoroughgoing view. Only by placing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law in the overall system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era can we more accurately grasp the significance and scientific positioning of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Only by earnestly studying and deeply understanding the scientific system, rich connotations, and essence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law; mastering the Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through it; and using them to equip the mind, guide practice, and promote work can we more profoundly and accurately grasp Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. 

Since the 19th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has summarized the ideological and theoretical achievements in various fields such as governing the Party, the country, and the military, and domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense, and clearly put forward Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. These five sub-fields of thought are all important theoretical planks of the scientific ideological system of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and other subfields of thought and the series of important expositions by the Party Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping on the work of the Party and the country complement each other and enhance each other. We must always link, combine, and connect the study and investigation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law with the study and investigation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and other content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. We must pay attention to the internal connection with other important expositions, practice integrated study, integrated comprehension, integrated implementation, and promote the comprehensive rule of law in an in-depth manner through the combined efforts of scientific thoughts in various fields to achieve new results and realize new breakthroughs. 

IV. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Is the Fundamental Guide to be Followed and Acted on for the Comprehensive Rule of Law

All great practices require correct guidance from scientific theories. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: To comprehensively promote the rule of law, a theory of the rule of law is an important guide. Without the guidance of the correct theory of the rule of law, there can be no correct practice of the rule of law . . . Advancing the comprehensive rule of law is a profound change in national governance. We must be guided by scientific theory to strengthen theoretical thinking.  Since the 18th Party Congress, China’s socialist rule of law has undergone historic changes and made historic achievements. Significant progress has been made in the practice of the comprehensive rule of law. The fundamental thing lies in upholding the Party’s overall leadership and upholding the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. 

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is not only a summary of the practical experience of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, but also the guiding ideology for the comprehensive rule of law in the new era. To further promote the comprehensive rule of law, we must always adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as the fundamental guide to follow; carefully grasp the historic tasks facing China’s construction of the rule of law; actively and steadily promote the great practice of comprehensive rule of law; focus on solving the institutional, mechanism, and guarantee issues that affect the high-quality development of the rule of law; start from a grasp of the reality of the new development stage, implementation of the new development concept, and building of a new development pattern; focus on the general goals of building a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and building a socialist country ruled by law; uphold the organic integration of the Party’s leadership, the people’s position as masters of the country, and the rule of law; transform Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law into a powerful driving force for the work of the comprehensive rule of law; transform this thought into ideas and measures to promote the construction of the rule of law; transform this thought into a lively practice of building a socialist country ruled by law in an all-round way; and constantly create a new situation in the construction of the rule of law in China. 

(i) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Has Scientifically Indicated the Correct Political Direction and the Road to the Rule of Law for the Construction of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

The direction determines the road, and the road determines our destiny. Upholding the party’s leadership, upholding the people-centered principle, and upholding the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics are the most fundamental political directions for the comprehensive rule of law. This will determine the success or failure of the construction of the rule of law. 

Upholding the Party’s leadership is the fundamental requirement of the socialist rule of law. It is the proper meaning and fundamental guarantee in the comprehensive promotion of the rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the comprehensive promotion of the rule of law is a systematic project and a broad and profound revolution in the field of national governance. “Systemic project” means that the comprehensive rule of law not only involves economic construction, political construction, cultural construction, social construction, ecological civilization construction, national defense and military construction, Party construction, and other fields, but also involves reform, development, and stability; domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense; and governance of the party, the country, and the military. It is a long-term historical mission. Only by giving play to the Party’s leadership in overseeing the overall situation, coordinating all parties, making overall designs, and providing a unified layout can the overall plan of the “systemic project” of comprehensive rule of law be completed, and only by this can we hope to achieve the overall goals of comprehensive rule of law and constructing the rule of law in China. Only by upholding the Party’s leadership in the comprehensive rule of law can this systematic project scientifically operate in an orderly manner and continue to deepen and advance. 

Upholding the people-centered principle is the fundamental political position of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the broadest and deepest foundation for the comprehensive rule of law is the people. To build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and a socialist country ruled by law, we must “uphold the people as the center” and insist that the rule of law is for the people and relies on the people. “This is our institutional advantage and the fundamental difference between the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and the capitalist rule of law.” To uphold the people-centered standpoint of the rule of law, it is necessary to implement the whole process of reflecting the people’s interests, reflecting the people’s aspirations, safeguarding the people’s rights and interests, enhancing the people’s well-being, and promoting fairness and justice in all areas of the comprehensive rule of law.

Adhering to the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is the only correct way to build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and a socialist country ruled by law in the new era, promote the construction of the rule of law in China, and realize the dream of a strong country ruled by law. It is also the road to the rule of law that best suits China’s national conditions. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Specifically speaking about the achievements in the construction of the rule of law in China, we can list more than a dozen or several dozens of them. However, in general terms, they opened up the road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.” The road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is a general governing [principle], which fundamentally guarantees the correct direction of socialist rule of law in China. In upholding the road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the core principles are to uphold the leadership of the CCP, uphold the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and implement the theory of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. 

Upholding the leadership of the Party, upholding the people-centered principle, and upholding the road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics: these three [commitments] have regulated and ensured the institutional attributes and direction of the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and the socialist country ruled by law. They have established the fundamental nature and fundamental requirements of comprehensive rule of law in the new era and described the distinctive features and signs of the construction of the rule of law in China. They are not only the fundamental guide to follow in promoting the construction of the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and the construction of a socialist country ruled by law, but also the guide to action for advancing the modernization of national governance. They are a track that cannot be deviated from, and also a red line that cannot be crossed. They must be deeply grasped, fully implemented, and continuously developed. 

(ii) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has Scientifically Indicated the ‘Track’ Role of the Rule of Law in the Modernization of the National Governance System and Governance Capacity

At the Fourth Plenum of the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the major theoretical proposition of “promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity on the track of the rule of law” for the first time. At the Central Work Conference on Comprehensive Rule of Law, General Secretary Xi Jinping further posited “upholding the promotion of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity on the rule of law track” as a major strategic task for comprehensive rule of law and the core essence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. In his speech at the third meeting of the Central Commission for the Comprehensive Rule of Law, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed “upholding the comprehensive rule of law and consolidating the institutional foundation of the governance of China.” These expositions by General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly reveal the inherent logic of the close relationship of the rule of law to national governance: 

The national governance system and governance capacity is the concentrated manifestation of a country’s system and system implementation capabilities. The national governance system is an institutional system for managing the country under the leadership of the Party. It includes economic, political, cultural, social, ecological civilization, and Party construction as well as institutions, mechanisms, and legal and regulatory arrangements in other fields. This makes it a set of closely connected and coordinated national systems. National governance capacity is the ability to use the national system to manage all aspects of society, including reform, development, and stability; domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and national defense; and the governance of the party, the country, and the military. The national governance system and governance capacity are an organic whole and complement each other. It is only with a good national governance system that governance capacity can be improved, and it is only by improving national governance capacity that the effectiveness of the national governance system can be fully brought to bear. The modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity is the meaning and inevitable requirement of China’s socialist modernization in the new era. In both the improvement of the national governance system or the enhancement of national governance capacity, the rule of law plays the role of a “track,” that is, it plays a role of standardization, guidance, and guarantee. The rule of law is the support of the national governance system, the embodiment of national governance capacity, and the guarantee of the effectiveness of national governance. In China, the socialist rule of law embodies the theoretical achievements and practical experience of our Party in governing the country, embodies the wisdom of the Chinese nation in governing the country and the essence of human institutional civilization, and has a powerful institutional force that supports national governance. The Constitution of China confirms the ruling position of the CCP and confirms the Party’s core position in the structure of state power as the institution in charge of the overall situation and the coordination of all parties. It stipulates the fundamental political system for the people to be the masters of the country, stipulates the basic system of ideology guided by Marxism, and stipulates the basic and important systems of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It provides the most basic, most stable, and most reliable institutional guarantee for national governance. Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has based his strategic thinking on advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity on the track of the rule of law. He has provided an in-depth explanation of a series of major theoretical issues such as the relationship between the rule of law and state governance, the relationship between the rule of law system and the state governance system, and the relationship between the modernization of state governance and the implementation of the rule of law (法治化) in state governance. He has proposed major deployments such as accelerating the establishment and improvement of a scientific and complete legal and regulatory system; promoting the fairness, efficiency, and authority of law enforcement and the judiciary; and strengthening the social foundation of the rule of law. He has consolidated the institutional foundation of the governance of China. 

The rule of law is the fundamental guide to follow for advancing the modernization of national governance, and the comprehensive rule of law is the only road to the modernization of national governance. This logic will inevitably prompt us to accelerate the construction of the rule of law, build a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and provide institutional support and guarantees for the effective governance and governance modernization of the country. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out:  ‘By establishing good laws for the world, you can govern the world; by establishing good laws for one country, you can govern one country.’ To promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, we must naturally attach great importance to the issue of the rule of law, take effective measures to comprehensively promote the rule of law, build a socialist country ruled by law, and build a China ruled by law. 

(iii) Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law Scientifically Indicates Strategic Goals and Important Measures for the New Stage of Building a Modernized Socialist Country in an All-Round Way and Construction of the Rule of Law in China

Since the 19th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has continuously deepened its understanding of the patterns of rule of law construction in China in the new era. On the basis of in-depth research and judgment on the overall strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and major changes in the world unseen in a century and a systematic summary of the new experience of comprehensive rule of law since the 18th Party Congress, they put forward strategic goals and important measures for the new stage of building a modernized socialist country in an all-round way. 

The Decisions of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party on Several Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of China’s System and Capacity for Governance (中共中央关于坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化若干重大问题的决定), adopted by the Fourth Plenum of the 19th Party Congress, proposed to “uphold and improve the system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and improve the Party’s ability to govern the country and govern according to law.” It also made decisions and deployments on “improving institutions and mechanism to ensure the comprehensive implementation of the Constitution”; “improving legislative institutions and mechanisms”; “improving the social fairness, justice, and rule of law guarantee system”; and “strengthening supervision of the implementation of the law.” The Proposals of the CCP Central Committee on Formulating the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Term Goals for 2035 (中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十四个五年规划和二〇三五年远景目标的建议) was adopted by the Fifth Plenum of the 19th Party Congress. Based on the two-stage strategic arrangement for achieving the second centennial objective of the 19th Party Congress, it proposed that, by 2035, the modernization of the national governance structure and governance capacity should basically be achieved; people’s rights to equal participation and equal development should be fully assured; and a nation, government, and society under the rule of law should basically be established. To this end: We will adhere to building a nation, government, and society based on the rule of law; refine the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the Constitution at its core; strengthen legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields; raise the level of administration in accordance with law; refine mechanisms for the operation and oversight of supervisory, judicial, and prosecutorial powers; promote judicial fairness, carry out in-depth propaganda and education on the rule of law, effectively utilize the role of the rule of law as the guarantee for consolidating fundamentals, stabilizing expectations, and benefiting the long term; and promote the construction of the rule of law in China. We will also promote the all-round development of human rights. 

To achieve this mid-term goal, the 14th Five-Year Plan period is the key. To this end, the CCP Central Committee issued the Plan to Build the Rule of Law in China (2020-2025) (法治中国建设规划 [2020-2025年]), proposing that we “unswervingly follow the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and strive to build a China governed by law with good laws and good governance.” General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that “to build the rule of law in China, we must adhere to the common promotion of national governance, exercise of power, and administration according to law and adhere to the integrated construction of a country under the rule of law, a government under the rule of law, and a society under the rule of law.” “Common promotion” and “integrated construction” are the scientific method of the comprehensive rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that “the comprehensive promotion of the rule of law is a systematic project and a broad and profound revolution in the field of national governance.” It is necessary to “focus on common promotion and work hard in integrated construction”; use scientific methods to solve the problem of “fragmented governance” (各自为政) in the construction of the rule of law; and effectively enhance the systemic, integral, and coordinated nature of the construction of the rule of law. General Secretary Xi Jinping also used the methodology of systematic thinking and dialectical thinking. He discussed how to adhere to “common promotion” and “integrated construction”, emphasizing that “national governance, exercise of power, and administration according to law is an organic whole and the key is that the party must adhere to exercising power by law and governments at all levels must adhere to administration by law.” “The nation, government, and society based on the rule of law have their respective focuses and complement each other. A nation ruled by law is the goal of the construction of the rule of law, a government ruled by law is the main entity for the construction of a nation ruled by law, and a society ruled by law is the basis for building a nation ruled by law.”

To construct the rule of law in China, we must accelerate the construction of a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. First, we must strengthen the Party’s leadership over legislative work and improve the legislative work pattern characterized by the leadership of Party committees, the leadership of the People’s Congress, the support of the government, and the participation of all parties. We must promote scientific legislation, democratic legislation, and law-based legislation in an in-depth manner; continuously improve the quality and efficiency of legislation; and strengthen legislation in key fields, emerging fields, and foreign-related fields. In particular, we must promote the implementation of new development concepts, build a new development pattern, and ensure the high-quality development of laws and regulations, forming a complete legal system. Second, we must promote constitutional governance, strict law enforcement, fair justice, and respect for the law by all people in an in-depth manner, forming an efficient system for the implementation of the rule of law. Third, we must promptly improve the restriction and supervision mechanisms for the exercise of authority and regulate the exercise of authority by legislative, law enforcement, and judicial organs, forming a rule of law supervision system with unified leadership, comprehensive coverage, effective authority, and a strict system. Fourth, we must strengthen the safeguards of politics, organizations, teams, talents, science and technology, and information and provide important support for the comprehensive rule of law, forming a strong assurance system for the rule of law. Fifth, we must adhere to the organic unity of governing the country according to law and governing the party according to regulations; take the Party Constitution as the foundation and democratic centralism as the core; and continuously improve the Party’s organizational regulations, the Party’s leadership regulations, the Party’s self-construction regulations, and the Party’s supervision and guarantee regulations, forming a system of internal Party regulations with scientific content, rigorous procedures, complete support, and effective operations. 

To construct the rule of law in China amid major changes in the world unseen in a century, we must coordinate the promotion of domestic rule of law and international rule of law. The major changes unseen in a century mean the turbulent reconstruction of the world order, the “rise in the East and decline in the West” of world power, and the evolution of the times in international rule of law. In the context of this era, General Secretary Xi Jinping took a broad and forward-looking view, carefully assessed the situation, and promptly proposed the “coordinated promotion of the domestic and international rule of law” and “coordinated promotion of domestic and international governance” to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests in accordance with the law. At present, in the two overall situations of the domestic and international rule of law, there are many shortcomings and weaknesses in international rule of law. In accordance with the deployment requirements of the Party Central Committee, we must accelerate the strategic layout of international rule of law work; strengthen thinking on the rule of law; apply methods of the rule of law; comprehensively use legislation, law enforcement, and judicial methods to carry out struggles involving foreign countries; and effectively respond to challenges and prevent risks. For example, we must improve the foreign investment national security review, anti-monopoly review, national technology security list management, unreliable entity list, and other systems to improve our ability to respond to overseas security risks and countermeasures; we must establish and improve overseas legal and security risk assessment and prevention mechanisms, focusing on areas where China’s overseas interests are concentrated and where overseas security issues are prominent, such as the Belt and Road to ensure the safety of China’s overseas investment projects; we must accelerate the construction of a legal system applicable outside the jurisdiction of China and strengthen foreign-related legal services to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas and foreign citizens and legal persons in China; we must establish and improve mechanisms for clarifying foreign laws, strengthen the construction of specialized courts, arbitration institutions, and mediation organizations, improve the level of judicial adjudication in foreign-related cases, and improve the effectiveness and credibility of arbitration and mediation of commercial disputes to better serve the construction of the Belt and Road and international economic trade; and we must study the laws of different legal systems and different countries and especially become familiar with the legal systems and law enforcement judicial procedures of major countries to seize the initiative in institutional competition and legal games. 

To coordinate the promotion of the domestic rule of law and international rule of law, we must also focus on promoting the reform of the global governance system and promoting the construction of a community of common destiny for humanity. We must unswervingly uphold the Charter of the United Nations, which is the fundamental basis for handling international relations and an important cornerstone of the stability of the international order; uphold the coordination of relations and interests of countries through institutions and rules; always be a practitioner of multilateralism; take the lead as an advocate and defender of the international rule of law; resolutely maintain the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law; and firmly maintain the core role of the United Nations in international affairs. We must actively participate in the formulation of international rules and help make more Chinese voices heard and inject more Chinese elements into the formulation of international rules; actively participate in international cooperation in law enforcement and security and judicial assistance, and jointly combat violent terrorist forces, ethnic separatist forces, religious extremist forces, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, and other criminal activities; and strengthen international cooperation in anti-corruption and increase efforts in overseas pursuit of individuals who flee, recovery of stolen goods, repatriation, and extradition. 

The practice of the rule of law never stops, and theoretical innovation constantly moves forward. The theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is an inclusive and open theoretical system. It will inevitably continue to innovate and develop along with the practice of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. It will inevitably maintain its vitality and demonstrate significant advantages with the vigorous progress of the rule of law in the new era. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to adhere to the upright and innovative style of study. It is necessary to adhere to Marxist theories for a long time and to continuously enrich and develop them. We are called to strengthen theoretical research on the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics; deeply summarize the practical experience and achievements of the building of the rule of law by the people under the leadership of the Party; innovate and develop the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics; and build a legal discipline system, academic system, and discourse system with Chinese characteristics. At the Central Work Conference on Comprehensive Rule of Law, General Secretary Xi Jinping further emphasized:  Advancing the comprehensive rule of law is a profound change in national governance. We must be guided by scientific theory to strengthen theoretical thinking. In terms of theory, we must answer the major issue of the times: why must we adopt the comprehensive rule of law and how to adopt the comprehensive rule of law? We must continuously obtain new results from the combination of theory and practice, summarize and make good use of the Party’s ideological and theoretical achievements in strengthening rule of law construction for the new era, and better guide all the work of comprehensive rule of law. We must conscientiously implement the spirit of General Secretary Jinping’s important instructions and adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. While deeply studying and thoroughly practicing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, we must continue to deepen and expand the research on Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and develop new theories and make new contributions to the comprehensive rule of law, building the rule of law in China, and realizing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.