On November 17, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech to the central conference on work related to overall law-based governance. He called for sticking to the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the modernization of China's governance system and capacity in line with the rule of law. 

Xi Jinping urged upholding the Party leadership on law-based governance, saying it is the fundamental guarantee for ensuring law-based governance in China. He also called for promoting law-based governance to guarantee the effective implementation of the Party's line, principles and policies. 

A people-centered approach must be taken. The fundamental goal of promoting law-based governance is to protect the people's rights and interests. People's happy life must be guaranteed by the rule of law. 

Efforts should be made to ensure that China stays on the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. 

Xi underscored adopting a mindset consistent with the rule of law and taking a law-based approach when handling deep-seated obstacles to economic and social development, as well as providing long-term institutional guarantees for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. 

He stressed the importance of promoting the modernization of China's governance system and capacity along the path of the rule of law. Xi urged efforts to respond to major challenges, withstand major risks, overcome major obstacles, and address major conflicts in accordance with the law. 

He called for efforts to continue fostering a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and actively advance legislation in key areas including national security, scientific and technological innovation, public health, bio-safety and ecological civilization. 

He said the country should pursue coordinated progress in law-based governance, law-based exercise of state power, and law-based government administration, and promote the integrated development of rule of law for the country, the government and the society. 

(Source: Extract from Xi Jinping's speech at the central conference on work related to overall law-based governance in Beijing, November 17, 2020.) 

This episode is presented by Luo Laiming.