RESEARCH ON THE
PEOPLE-ORIENTED NATURE OF XI JINPING THOUGHT
ON THE RULE OF LAWA. Theoretical Logic
B. Historical Logic
C. Cultural Logic
D. Practical Logic
III. SCIENTIFIC CONNOTATIONA. Upholding the Principal Position
of the People
B. Protecting the Legitimate Rights
and Interests of the People
C. Relying on the People to Promote
the Rule of Law
D. Adhering to the People’s
Evaluation on the Rule of Law
A. Committing to the People-Centered
Approach in Sound Legislation
B. Serving the People in Strict Law Enforcement
C. Putting the People First in
Impartial Administration of Justice
D. Enhancing the Concept of Equality
in the Observance of the Law by Everyone
A. Providing the Latest Achievements
for Marxism to Adapt to China’s Conditions
B. Providing Guidance for Promoting
the Overall Law-Based Governance
C. Providing Directions for Building
a Socialist Country Based on the Rule of Law
D. Contributing Chinese Wisdom to
the Reform of Global Governance
The
people-oriented nature, with logical formation, scientific connotation,
practical path and theoretical value, has become an important character of Xi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. The people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping
Thought on the Rule of Law is formed on the basis of adhering to Marxism on the
Rule of Law, inheriting and carrying forward the excellent traditional legal
culture in China and meeting the needs of the people for a better life, etc.
Its scientific connotation is embodied in upholding the people’s principal
position, protecting the people’s legitimate rights and interests, relying on
the people to promote the rule of law, adhering to the people’s evaluation of
the rule of law, etc. To show the people-oriented nature in the implementation
of the rule of law, emphasis should be laid on sound legislation, strict law
enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and the observance of the law by
everyone. The theoretical value of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law
lies in promoting the adaptation of Marxism on the Rule of Law to China’s
conditions, planning and coordinating all aspects of overall law-based governance,
providing guidance for building a socialist country based on the rule of law,
and contributing Chinese wisdom to the reform of global governance.Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012,
General Secretary Xi
Jinping, focusing
on the themes of advancing overall law-based governance and striving to build
China under the rule of law, has delivered a series of important speeches,
which systematically and profoundly answered a series of major questions such
as why and how to advance the overall law-based governance in the new era from
the combination of theory and practice, forming Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule
of Law characterized by rich content, strict logic, complete system and
scientific elaboration. The people are the creators of history; they are the
fundamental force that determines our Party and country’s future. Decrees may
be followed if they are in accordance with the aspirations of the people; they
may be ineffective if they are against the aspirations of the people. In the
theoretical connotation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the
people-oriented nature is one of the important characteristics, stemming from
the fact that the people are the deep foundation of the CPC’s governance as
well as the starting point and foothold of the overall law-based governance. At
the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China,
President Xi Jinping pointed out that this country is its people; the
people are the country. As we have fought to establish and consolidate our leadership
over the country, we have in fact been fighting to earn and keep the people’s
support. The Party has in the people its roots, its lifeblood, and its source of strength.
Therefore, the people-oriented nature has become the fundamental character of
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Scholars attach great importance to the
people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and believe
that the people-oriented nature is the bright background of Xi Jinping Thought
on the Rule of Law, the most distinctive character of Xi Jinping Thought on the
Rule of Law, the concrete embodiment of the philosophy of people-centered
development in the field of the rule of law for a new era, and an important part
of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.The academic
circles, on the basis of this consensus, have carried out a series of
comprehensive and in-depth research on Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law
from the perspectives of the theoretical connotation, the mission of the rule
of law and the implementation path. The first research perspective is from the
theoretical connotation. The people-centered connotation in Xi Jinping Thought
on the Rule of Law includes upholding the principal position of the people,
safeguarding the people’s legitimate rights and interests, responding to the
people’s needs and living up to expectations, etc. The people-centered position
of the rule of law is mainly reflected in adhering to the rule of law for the
people, adhering to the rule of law relying on the people, adhering to the rule
of law to protect the people’s rights and interests, etc. Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law emphasizes upholding the principal position of the people,
reflecting the people’s will, safeguarding the people’s interests and improving
the people’s well-being, which is a creative inheritance of the distinctive
character of the people-oriented nature in Marxism in China for a new era and
the third historical leap in the sinicization of Marxist jurisprudence. The
second research perspective is from the mission of the rule of law. The mission
of the rule of law is an important theme of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of
Law. The socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics carries the
important mission of protecting the rights and interests of the people. The
fundamental position of adhering to the people-centered Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law should be implemented in the whole process of overall law-based
governance, and the people-centered nature of justice should be highlighted
closely around the important requirement of ‘striving to make the people see in
every judicial case that justice is served’. The third research perspective is
from the implementation path. To implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of
Law, we need to grasp the value pursuit of social fairness and justice, and
strive to give full play to the main responsibility of leading cadres and the
mainstay of the political and legal team.
The above-mentioned
interpretation has deepened the theoretical understanding and expanded the
theoretical vision of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the
Rule of Law, and further put forward the problems worthy of systematic thinking
from the micro level: what is the logic to form the people-oriented nature of
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law? What are the main aspects of the
scientific connotation of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law based on the formation logic? How to implement the people-oriented
nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law? What are its contributions to
the theory of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics? With these
questions, this paper, based on the above research, intends to analyze the people-oriented
nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law from four aspects: formation
logic, scientific connotation, implementation path and theoretical value, in
order to further deepen and expand the research of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.
The formation of
any thought is a process of drawing beneficial elements on the basis of
predecessors and continuing to mature in a specific practice. As the latest
theoretical achievement of ‘thinking and guiding the rule of law in China with
the general principles of Marxism’, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has a
solid logical foundation of theory, which is based on the legal thoughts of
classical Marxist writers andthe constructive achievements of western legal
civilization.1. The Rule of Law Thought
of Classical Marxist Writers. — In the history of human thought, no theory has had such a broad and
profound impact on mankind as Marxism. Marxism emphasizes that the only creator
of material and spiritual wealth in society is the people. Therefore, the only
support for the continuous operation of the wheel of history is also the
people. Marx and Engels believe that the implementation of the law is
to serve the people. ‘Certainty can only exist if the law is the conscious
expression of the popular will, and therefore originates with it and is created
by it.’ There are a great number of incisive discussions around the people’s
position, interests and evaluation standards in Lenin Collected Works, which fully demonstrate Lenin’s sincere and profound care for the
people and the value pursuit of ‘putting the people first’. Marxist classical
writers provide a theoretical source for the people-oriented nature of Xi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the people-oriented nature is
the most distinctive characteristic of Marxism. In November 2020, at the
Central Conference on Work Related to Overall Law-Based Governance, President Xi Jinping emphasized and deployed ‘adhering
to the people as the center’ as a key work that must be done well to further
promote the overall law-based governance at present and in the future. Since
the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central
Committee with Comrade Xi
Jinping as the
core has always adhered to the general principles of Marxism to guide the
construction of the rule of law in China, upheld the principal position of the
people, and creatively inherited Marxism on the Rule of Law, such as
materiality, politics, people, sociality, practicality and inheritance. As a new
development and new leap in the sinicization of Marxism on the Rule of Law, Xi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law adheres to the fundamental position of the
people, emphasizes the firm standing with the people, implementation of the
Party’s mass line, respect for the people’s creativity, as well as the
development of the people-centered philosophy, and highlights that the overall law-based governance must
uphold the principal position of the people, and the in-depth promotion of the
overall law-based governance must adhere to the people as the center.2. Constructive
Achievements of Western Civilization of the Rule of Law. — Although the rule of law in
western countries is different from that in China in terms of regime and
economic and social development, the rule of law in China in the new era can
take the essence and discard the dross of Western rule of law. First of all,
the core spirit of Western rule of law is justice. Aristotle believes that equality and justice are the
essence of justice. German jurist Radbruch mentioned that justice is equal, while Yelin pointed out that justice is
security. China has also reasonably absorbed and learned from the core spirit
of justice in the construction of the rule of law. Secondly, the rule of law is
more advantageous than the rule of man. According to Western thought on the
rule of law, the effects of the rule of law are better than those of the rule
of man. Thirdly, an important issue of legal theory is ‘belief in law’, which
plays a decisive role in the realization of the value of law and affects the
promotion of the rule of law. Rousseau mentioned in Discourse on Political Economy and the Social
Contract that
the most important law in all laws is not engraved on marble or bronze watches,
but in the hearts of citizens. Harold J. Berman, a famous contemporary American
jurist, once said that only when people fully believe in the law can the law really
play a binding role in society. It is impossible to believe in the law
overnight. It needs the constraints of the external environment and the sincere
respect from the bottom of the heart. It also needs the society to optimize the
environment of the rule of law continuously. Constructive achievements of
Western legal civilization provide important ideas for accelerating the
construction of the rule of law. We should have faith in the law and be in awe
of the law, and ensure that the whole people abide by the law, internalize it
in hearts and externalize it in actions. It can be said that the
people-oriented nature in Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law has absorbed
the essence of excellent rule of law civilization in the world, proceeded from
the reality of China, and explored the road of the rule of law that is suitable
for China’s national conditions in the practice of construction and reform.At the Ceremony
Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that since
the very day of its founding, the Party has made seeking happiness for the Chinese
people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation its aspiration and mission. The
people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is formed on
the basis of inheriting the people-oriented thought in the traditional legal
culture and the unremitting pursuit of the CPC’s leadership in the construction
of the rule of law.1.
People-Oriented Thought in Traditional Legal Culture. — During the
Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the people-oriented thought had not formed a complete
system, but it can still be seen from the historical process that ordinary
people played an important role in the rise and fall of a country. Just as the
old saying in Shoo King, ‘The people should be
cherished, and not looked down upon. The people are the root of a country. The
root firm, the country is tranquil.’ During the Spring and Autumn period and
the Warring States period, Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism and Mohism had
far-reaching impacts on the thought of the rule of law. In terms of the
people-oriented thought, Confucius and Mencius advocated the
implementation of ‘benevolent governance’, paying attention to ‘rule by man’,
‘rule by virtue’ and ‘rule by rites’ and putting the people in the primary position
and themselves in the secondary position. The legalists represented by Shang
Yang and Han Fei discussed the origin,
nature, function and social relationship of law and advocated the rule of law.
After the unification of the Six Kingdoms in the Qin Dynasty, Confucian
classics were regarded as orthodoxy, and Chinese feudal law began to be
Confucianism. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, with the economic prosperity
and development, the people-oriented thought developed to a new height and
became an orthodox ideology. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the
people-oriented thought developed toward perfection. Zhang Juzheng, a politician
in the Ming Dynasty, believes that ‘pacifying, benefiting and supporting the
people’ is the way to govern. Su Shi, a well-known
writer in the Northern Song Dynasty, once said that getting rid of the scourge
of the common people is like getting rid of my own heart disease, which means
that we should love the people and solve the people’s problems just like
getting rid of our own heart disease. These thoughts all reflect the profound
people-oriented thought. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law inherited the
value orientation of ‘being close to the people and loving the people’ in the
people-oriented thought, believed ‘the people’s livelihood matters most of all
things’, and added new connotation to it in the process of the times, showing a
distinct people-oriented nature.2.
The Thought on the Rule of Law of Successive Leaders of the Communist Party of
China. — China’s development is inseparable from the hard work and struggle of
the broad masses of the people as well as the efforts and exploration of the
leaders of the Communist Party of China. Since the founding of the People’s
Republic of China, Comrade Mao Zedong combined the
basic theory of Marxism with China’s specific revolution and construction, and
explored the theoretical direction and specific practice of the legal
construction of the People’s Republic of China with great courage. Comrade Mao
Zedong pointed out that the people, and only the people, are the driving force
in creating world history. In the new period of reform and opening up, the
Chinese Communists represented by Comrade Deng Xiaoping have a deeper understanding of the
relationship between democracy and legal system: in order to protect people’s
democracy, we must strengthen legal system, and democracy and legal system
should be upheld. They are like two hands, and neither hand can be weakened.
Comrade Jiang
Zemin stressed
the need to strengthen the construction of socialist democratic politics, but
also the construction of a socialist legal system. In 1996, in the concluding
speech of the third lecture on the legal system of the CPC Central Committee,
Comrade Jiang
Zemin put
forward the strategy of the law-based governance and comprehensively and
profoundly expounded the great significance of the law-based governance. With
the advent of the new century, Comrade Hu Jintao put forward the Scientific Outlook on
Development, requiring China’s development and construction to emphasize the people-centered
philosophy, establishing the concept of comprehensive and sustainable
development, and realizing the all-round development of economy, society and
people at the same time. These important expositions have profoundly expounded
the basic truth that socialist democracy needs the guarantee of socialist rule
of law, and pointed out the basic path of synchronously promoting the
construction of socialist democracy and rule of law under the leadership of the
Party. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and the
construction of socialist democracy and rule of law has opened a new chapter. President Xi Jinping pointed out the organic unity of adhering to
the Party’s leadership, the people being the masters of the country and the
law-based governance is a basic experience of China’s socialist rule of law
construction. In China, the key to developing socialist democratic politics,
ensuring that it is our people who run the country and guaranteeing that the
country’s political life is dynamic, stable and orderly is to adhere to the
organic unity of the Party’s leadership, the people being the masters of the
country and the law-based governance. President Xi Jinping also spoke highly of the strength and role of
the people. He stressed on different occasions that the people are the true
heroes, for it is they who create history, and the great achievements of the
new era have come from the collective dedication and hard work of our Party and
our people. These important expositions are an important embodiment of the
people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the
crystallization of the wisdom of the new generation of Chinese Communists to carry forward
the cause and forge ahead into the future, and unite and lead the people of the
whole country to deeply promote the overall law-based governance and unremittingly pursue the rule
of law for the people.President Xi Jinping pointed out that culture is the
lifeline and soul of a nation. When the culture flourishes, the nation prospers
and when the culture diminishes, the nation declines. In a broad sense, the culture
of the rule of law includes not only the spirit and the concept of the rule of
law, but also the rule of law system dominated by the spirit and the concept of
the rule of law, people’s behavior, and so on. In a narrow sense, the culture
of the rule of law mainly refers to the establishment of the consciousness, the
concept, the value orientation, and the mode of thinking of the rule of law.
The people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is the
theoretical achievement of the rule of law, which integrates the legal cultural
tradition accumulated by the Chinese nation for thousands of years and the
practical needs of the rule of law for a new era.1.
Inheritance of the Essence of Culture in the Chinese Legal System. —Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central
Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has attached great importance to the excavation
and inheritance of Chinese excellent traditional culture. President Xi
Jinping stressed
that we have our history and culture, our systems and mechanisms, and our
national conditions. Our national governance has incomparable particularity and
complexity of other countries, as well as our own long-term accumulated experience and
advantages. We cannot belittle ourselves or forget our ancestors. Different
from the civil law system, the common law system and the Islamic law system,
the Chinese law system was formed under the specific historical conditions of
our country, which shows the great creativity of the Chinese nation and the
profound heritage of the Chinese legal civilization. Success and failure, and
gain and loss of the legal system in ancient China should be studied, the
essence of Chinese legal culture should be excavated and inherited, and
nutrition and good selection should be used. President Xi Jinping highly summarized the ideological wisdom in
the excellent traditional Chinese legal culture as six parts: governing
strategies of punishing acts against norms and upholding rites of law; the people-oriented
thought that regards people as the root of a country, and the root firm, the
country is tranquil; the value pursuit of no lawsuit and harmonious relations;
cautious punishment thought of primary virtue and accessory punishment as well
as pleasant virtue and careful punishment; the concept of equality of invoking
a legal provision to declare convictions and suiting punishment to crimes; the
principle of punishment of protecting the lonely (including widows, widowers,
orphans, the childless and other lonely people) and the weak (including the
elderly, minors, women and the disabled). These six aspects highlight the
wisdom of governance in China’s excellent traditional legal culture and China’s
governance philosophy and tradition.2. Innovation of Culture of
the Rule of Law in the New Era. — The rule of law is an important way of modern national governance.
The construction of a country’s rule of law not only depends on the authority
of the law, but also cannot be separated from the support of the rule of law
culture. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core attaches importance to the
inheritance of the excellent traditional Chinese legal culture and the
construction of modern socialist rule of law culture, which complement each
other. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law fully absorbs the traditional
wisdom of governance, such as the people-oriented thought in the excellent
traditional Chinese legal culture, and carries out theoretical innovation in
combination with the practical needs of the rule of law in the new era. For
instance, President Xi
Jinping’s
proposition that ‘everyone is equal before the law’ has given a new era
connotation to China’s traditional culture of rule of law. At the Fourth
Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, President Xi Jinping put forward the ‘five insistence’
for the construction of the rule of law in contemporary China, one of which is
to adhere to the principle that everyone is equal before the law. The
enthusiasm and initiative of the people to devote themselves to the practice of
the law-based governance should be fully mobilized, so that all the people can
become loyal advocates, conscientious adherents and firm defenders of the
socialist rule of law to make respecting, trusting, protecting, observing and
using law become the common pursuit of all the people. President Xi Jinping pointed out that building a
socialist country based on the rule of law requires upholding the
constitutional concept that all state power belongs to the people, mobilizing
and organizing the people to exercise state power through people’s congresses
at all levels in accordance with the Constitution and laws, managing state and social affairs,
economic and cultural undertakings through various channels and forms,
building, enjoying and developing together, and becoming the masters of the
country, society and their own destiny. President Xi Jinping repeatedly stressed that the construction of
the rule of law should be for the people, rely on the people, benefit the
people and protect the people, and it should reflect the people’s interests as
well as wishes, safeguard the people’s interests and enhance the people’s
well-being. It can be seen that the people-centered development philosophy is
not only the Party’s core value pursuit, but also the value pursuit of the
construction of the Party’s rule of law culture.The
connotation of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of
Law requires specific measures in the practice of overall law-based governance
and transforms these measures into practical behavior, so as to truly play its
guiding role in leading the construction of socialist rule of law with Chinese
characteristics in the new era. Overall law-based governance covers a wide
range of legal practice. In the process of the practice of the rule of law, to
fully show the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, it is advisable to
fully implement it in all respects, promote it as a whole, and advance it in
all areas by drawing upon the experience gained on key points.1. An
Important Part of a Better Life for the People. — The people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the
Rule of Law is formed on the basis of actively meeting the needs of the people
in socialist modern countries for a better life. Seeking happiness for the
people, rejuvenation for the nation and great harmony for the world is the
golden key to deeply understanding and comprehensively grasping Xi Jinping
Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Facing the
people’s growing expectations for a better life in the new era, President Xi Jinping pointed out the people’s needs for
a better life have expanded in scope and depth, putting forward not only higher
requirements for material and cultural life, but also increased requirements
for democracy, rule of law, fairness, justice, security and environment. Based
on the judgment of the changes of the main social contradictions in China,
President Xi
Jinping stressed
the necessity to actively respond to the new requirements and expectations of
the people, adhere to the problem and goal orientation, establish dialectical
thinking and overall concept, systematically study, plan and solve the
prominent problems strongly reflected by the people in the field of the rule of
law, constantly enhance the people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and
security, and ensure that the people live and work in peace and contentment.
Seeking happiness for the people is not only the original mission and value pursuit
of the Communist Party of China, but also the original mission and value
pursuit of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. The rule of
law is an important element of people’s well-being. The people’s enjoyment of
democracy, fairness, justice, security and environment is an inseparable social
practice foundation for promoting the construction of the rule of law. It must
be reliably guaranteed by the legal system and realized in a standardized and
orderly manner in the way of the rule of law. In the new era, the people’s
growing demand for democracy, fairness, justice, security and environment will
lead to the growing demand for the rule of law. Therefore, the contradiction between
supply and demand of the rule of law in the new era will be more prominent than
ever, the connotation of the rule of law for people’s better life will be
richer than ever, and the efforts to meet the needs of the people for a better
life will be needed more urgently than ever.2. An
Important Guarantee for a Better Life for the People. — The
people’s expectation for a better life is our goal. In the face of the people’s
growing demand for the rule of law in the new era, while planning the overall
situation of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, especially
the cause of socialist rule of law in China, the Party Central Committee with
Comrade Xi Jinping as the core actively responded to the people’s
expectations for the rule of law based on the needs of a better life, paid more
attention to the rule of law and the key role of the rule of law in securing
fundamentals, stabilizing expectations and benefiting long-term interests, put the construction of
the rule of law in a more prominent position, and took the prominent problems
in the field of the rule of law that have been strongly reflected by the people
as the entry point and focus of planning and promoting the work of the rule of
law. It has been proved by practice that since the 18th CPC National Congress,
taking the prominent problems strongly reflected by the people in the field of
the rule of law as the entry point and focus, deepening the reform in the field
of the rule of law, and deeply promoting overall law-based governance are key
to China’s socialist rule of law construction, which have undergone historic
changes, made historic achievements and won widespread recognition. Therefore,
the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is rooted
in the people’s practical needs of the rule of law based on the needs for a
better life, tests the vivid practice of the rule of law to solve the problems
strongly reflected by the people in the field of the rule of law, and is firmly
committed to better meeting the people’s expectation for the rule of law based
on the needs for a better life, which makes the practical connotation of the
people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law more profound
in the practice of overall law-based governance and makes all sectors of
society more firm on the people’s position of China’s socialist rule of law and
more confident in the people-oriented nature of the socialist rule of law with
Chinese characteristics.III. SCIENTIFIC
CONNOTATIONThe relationship between the rule of law and the people is a basic issue
in the overall law-based governance, which is related to the basic position and
development direction of the socialist rule of law. The Party Central Committee
with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core firmly adhered to the people’s position
of socialist rule of law, closely focused on the multi-dimensional relationship between rule of law
construction and people’s position, rights and interests, and feelings and
strength, and comprehensively and deeply answered the basic questions of
overall law-based governance, such as value subject, evaluation criteria and
source of strength, so as to systematically show the scientific connotation of
the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.A. Upholding the Principal Position of the
PeopleThe people exist
not only as the main body in the construction of the rule of law, but also as
the backbone of the construction of China under the rule of law. In building
the rule of law in a socialist country where the people are the masters of the
country, it is imperative to always bear in mind the people’s position and
uphold the principal position of the people, which is the primary embodiment of
the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Upholding
the principal position of the people means that Party members and cadres stand
on the people’s side, take the people as the starting point in what they think
and do, and resolutely represent and safeguard the fundamental interests of the
people. President Xi
Jinping pointed
out that China’s socialist system ensures the principal position of the people
as masters of the country and the principal position of the people in the
overall law-based governance, which is our institutional advantage and the
fundamental reason why the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics
is different from the capitalist rule of law. Therefore, in deepening the work
of the overall law-based governance, it is essential to uphold the principal
position of the people, grasp the key of the people’s principal position in the
constitution, adhere to the organic unity of the Party’s leadership, the people
being the masters of the country and the overall law-based governance, carry forward
people’s democracy, pool the people’s wisdom and reflect the common will of all
the people. As the fundamental law of the country, the socialist system and
people’s congress system determined by China’s Constitution are the concentrated embodiment of the
constitutional concept that all power belongs to the people in China at the
level of the legal system. President Xi Jinping stressed on many important occasions that
adhering to the state system of the people’s democratic dictatorship and the
political system of the people’s congress system determined by the Constitution is an inherent requirement for
upholding the people’s principal position and adhering to the constitutional
concept that all power of the state belongs to the people in the in-depth promotion
of the overall law-based governance in the new era. These important expositions
have profoundly expounded the supreme principal states of the people in China’s
socialist system and socialist rule of law.B. Protecting the
Legitimate Rights and Interests of the PeopleAn important
connotation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is to protect the
legitimate rights and interests of the people. President Xi Jinping stressed that
the fundamental purpose of promoting the overall law-based governance is to
protect the rights and interests of the people according to the law. The rule
of law has the important function of protecting rights, and protecting people’s
rights and interests is an important mission of the socialist rule of law with
Chinese characteristics. To adhere to the people-oriented nature in further promoting the overall law-based
governance is to give full play to the right protection function of the rule of
law, so as to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people.
In the construction and practice of the rule of law, it is very important for
leading cadres at all levels to protect the legitimate rights and interests of
the people. President Xi Jinping pointed out that the specific exercise of the Party’s ruling power and
the state’s legislative, administrative, supervisory and judicial power by
leading cadres is the key to overall law-based governance, and the Party’s
leadership in lawmaking, ensuring law enforcement, supporting justice and
taking the lead in abiding by the law is mainly reflected and realized through
the specific actions and work of leading cadres at all levels. Therefore, since
the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi
Jinping as the core has paid special attention to the importance of leading
cadres taking the lead in respecting the law, studying the law and observing
the law for further promoting overall law-based governance and protecting the
legitimate rights and interests of the people. The Party Central Committee with
Comrade Xi Jinpingas the core focuses on solving problems in practice, and emphasizes that leading
cadres should adhere to the bottom line of the rule of law, and take the lead
in respecting and observing the law, which fully shows the people-oriented
nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and deeply expounds the
importance of leading cadres’ strict implementation of the rule of law to
protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people.C. Relying on the
People to Promote the Rule of LawRelying
on the people to promote the construction of the rule of law is an important
embodiment of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of
Law. The most extensive and profound foundation for overall law-based
governance is the people, so it is of paramount importance to adhere to serving
and relying on the people. The cause of socialist rule of law with Chinese
characteristics in the new era must closely rely on the joint efforts of the
broad masses of the people. President Xi Jinping pointed out the necessity to fully mobilize
the enthusiasm and initiative of the people to devote themselves to the
practice of governing the country according to the law. Under the guidance of
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the Implementation Outline for the Construction
of a Society Based on the Rule of Law (2020-2025) issued by the CPC Central Committee
in December 2020 stressed that we should cultivate the belief in the rule of
law in the whole society, enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of publicity
and education on the rule of law, guide all the people to be loyal advocates,
conscientious adherents and firm defenders of the socialist rule of law, and
make the rule of law a social consensus and basic principle. The Plan to Build the Rule of
Law in China (2020-2025), issued by the CPC Central Committee in January 2021, emphasizes and
deploys promoting overall law-based governance by relying on the people. These
important decisions are of guiding significance to better organize and mobilize
the people of the whole country and concentrate on the construction of the
socialist rule of law under the new historical conditions. In modern society,
the rule of law is an important support for national governance, and the
modernization of the rule of law is a cause that needs to be promoted
synchronously and harmoniously with the modernization of national governance.
The modernization of the rule of law is a far-reaching transformation process
including the transformation of legal system, legal value and rule of law
culture. In the new era of high-quality economic and social development, to
actively and steadily promote the modernization of the rule of law and ensure
that the construction of the rule of law can meet the practical requirements of
economic and social development and the modernization of national governance,
it is urgent to fully stimulate the enthusiasm of all the people to respect the
rule of law under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central
Committee, and give full play to positive roles of the broad masses of the
people in consciously participating in the construction of socialist rule of
law.D. Adhering to the
People’s Evaluation on the Rule of LawThe evaluation
criteria of the rule of law will be different due to different evaluation
subjects, so it has subjectivity. In socialist China, the people are the main
body of overall law-based governance and the assessors of the construction of
the rule of law. The effectiveness of the construction of the rule of law
should ultimately be assessed and evaluated by the people. The people are the
supreme arbiter and final judge of our Party’s work. President Xi Jinping stressed the need to take the people’s
support, approval, satisfaction and consent as the fundamental standards to
measure the gains and losses of all work and strive to make the people feel
fairness and justice in every legal system, every law enforcement decision and
every judicial case. It is required to fully respect the people’s inner feelings
of fairness and justice and pay full attention to the people’s sense of rule of
law in deepening the practice of overall law-based governance. The fairness and
justice of the rule of law is not only to enable professional personage of the
rule of law to enjoy fairness and justice, but also to enable people to enjoy
fairness and justice. The rule of law is the cause of good governance, and good
law is the foundation of good governance. With the continuous improvement of
the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics with the Constitution as the core, it has been realized
that there are laws to abide by in all aspects of Chinese national and social
life on the whole. In this legislative context, the focus of the people’s
attention to legislation is no longer ‘establishing a law in order to have a
law to rely on’, but ‘establishing a good law in order to have a good law and
good governance’. The expectation of the people for legislation is not whether
there is any, but whether it is good or not, whether it works or not, and
whether it can solve practical problems; not all laws can govern the country,
and not all laws can govern the country well; the more emphasis on the rule of
law, the more it is necessary to improve the quality of legislation. The real
experience of the people themselves is the most convincing criterion to
evaluate the effects of the construction of the rule of law. These important
expositions, from the perspective of the subject of the evaluation of the
rule of law, deeply show the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law, and are the creative interpretation and application of the
principle of the people-oriented nature of Marxism on the Rule of Law in the construction of China’s
rule of law in the new era.Since
the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has laid emphasis on
the construction of the rule of law and made continuous theoretical and
practical breakthroughs. President Xi Jinping expressed his implementation
opinions on further integrating socialist core values into the construction of
the rule of law: adhering to the combination of the law-based governance and
the virtue-based governance, integrating the core socialist values into the
whole process of building a country based on the rule of law, a government
based on the rule of law and a society based on the rule of law, and
integrating them into all links of sound legislation, strict law enforcement,
impartial administration of justice, and the observance of the law by everyone.
Among them, the people-oriented nature is the essence of Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law, which has solid practical value. The implementation path is
mainly carried out under the guidance of sound legislation, strict law enforcement,
impartial administration of justice, and the observance of the law by everyone.A. Committing to
the People-Centered Approach in Sound LegislationLegislation is the primary link of the rule of law, so paying attention
to legislation means paying attention to the source. The Fourth Plenary Session
of the 18th CPC Central Committee stressed the necessity to pay attention to
legislative work, achieve the combination of democracy and science in the
specific legislative process, reflect the people’s substantive demands, and
gain the people’s support and belief. Strengthening democratic legislation is
the internal requirement and the important aspect of promoting the construction
of socialist rule of law by developing people’s democracy in the whole process.
Only when the law is the conscious expression of the people’s will and is made
with the people’s will and created by the people’s will, can a definite grasp
be ensured. Firstly, speed up and improve the communication mechanism. In the
construction of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics,
strengthening democratic legislation as well as enhancing legislative democracy
and public participation will help fully absorb the will of the people, promote
the construction of a complete legal system, and lay a solid legislative foundation
for China with good law and good governance based on the rule of law. To this
end, efforts should be made to improve the mechanism for soliciting opinions on
legislation, expand the coverage and representativeness of public
participation, and enhance the transparency of legislation. Explanations should
be given to those relatively concentrated opinions that have not been adopted.
Secondly, improve the platform and the carrier of democratic public opinion
expression of the National People’s Congress. It is highly recommended that new
media and new technologies be used actively to expand the channels of public
participation in legislation, and improve the mechanism of legislative hearing
and public opinion survey, the working mechanism of absorbing public opinion be
improved, the wisdom of the people be taken advantage of, and the social
situation and public opinion of all aspects based on the fundamental interests
of the overwhelming majority of the people be integrated. Thirdly, give full
play to the role of deputies to the National People’s Congress. Deputies to the
National People’s Congress are the ‘spokesmen’ of the people. In the process of
long-term practice and exploration, many effective forms for deputies to the
National People’s Congress to participate in legislation have been formed
gradually. At the same time, it is necessary to innovate and improve the
mechanism for deputies to the National People’s Congress at all levels to
participate in legislation, and give more play to the role of deputies to the
National People’s Congress in drafting and amending laws.B. Serving the
People in Strict Law EnforcementStrictness is the premise and foundation for the orderly operation of
society and the guarantee of authority and credibility. Strict law enforcement
is to strictly abide by the rules within the framework of the Constitution and laws, so
as to be fair and strict. President Xi Jinping believes that
the vitality of law lies in implementation, and the authority of law also lies
in implementation. Law is the concentrated embodiment of the people’s will. To
promote and ensure the effective implementation of the law through supervision
is to promote and ensure the realization of the people’s will according to the
law. Only by taking the people’s will as the center and strengthening the
supervision of law implementation, can the people’s will contained in
legislation be fully realized in specific law implementation activities.
Firstly, law enforcers must establish the concept of law enforcement for the
people. Law enforcers are the staff of state organs and the representatives of
public power, but their power is given by the people and should naturally serve
the people. The rights of the people matter most, so strict law enforcement
requires law enforcers to put the vital interests of the people first,
consciously safeguard the rights and interests of the people, and create a good
legal environment for the people. Secondly, professional ethics should be
abided by strictly. Law enforcers should establish correct professional ideals,
act according to industry norms, listen to the opinions of the people,
understand the needs of the people, and truly enforce the law for the people.
Thirdly, law enforcers are the executors and enforcers of the law. A good way
of thinking on the rule of law should be developed to improve the level of law
enforcement, improve the credibility of national law enforcement organs, and
make law enforcers and law enforcement departments the most reliable dependence
of the broad masses of the people.C. Putting the
People First in Impartial Administration of JusticeJustice is an important means to safeguard national security, public
security and social order and good customs. It is the last line of defense and
relief mechanism to protect human rights. To achieve impartial administration
of justice and ensure that judicial work in China can uphold the people as the
core, the specific implementation path of impartial justice can be started from
the following three aspects. Firstly, ensure that the judiciary exercises its
power independently and impartially and meet the expectations of the people.
For one thing, the administration and localization of judicial power must be
removed, which requires all provinces in China to strengthen the full
integration of various resources of judicial organs, especially in the aspect
of judicial funds. For another, the relationship between fair justice and the
public should be effectively coordinated. It is the starting point of the work
of judicial organs to fully understand the needs and wishes of the broad masses
of the people, increase the depth of the broad masses of the people’s
participation in judicial work, and protect the broad masses of the people’s
enthusiasm for judicial work. Secondly, deepen the reform of the judicial
responsibility system and safeguard the rights and interests of the people. For
one thing, the profound relationship between the Party’s leadership and the
reform of the judicial responsibility system should be understood. Judicial
work should accept the Party’s leadership, and the people’s court must
strengthen the reform and implementation of the judicial responsibility system,
ensure the correct direction of the reform of the judicial responsibility
system, guarantee the independence and fairness of the people’s courts in
exercising judicial power, strengthen the construction of a clean government
and fight corruption in China’s judicial organs. For another, the relationship
between decentralization and supervision should be handled correctly. To make
justice public is to let the broad masses of the people know relevant
information. Thirdly, a complete restriction and supervision system should be
built. External supervision mainly depends on the active participation of the
broad masses of the people and the broadened channels and methods of
supervision. People’s courts at all levels may elect a group of representatives
from legal scholars, CPPCC members, journalists, lawyers, enterprises and
community residents to conduct judicial supervision, combine traditional
supervision methods with new media platforms, and strengthen the publicity of
procuratorial work and the openness of procuratorial affairs.D. Enhancing the
Concept of Equality in the Observance of
the Law by EveryoneThe observance
of the law by everyone should not be the last key to overall law-based
governance in China, but should fully reflect the concept of the observance of
the law by everyone in the process of legislation and law enforcement.
President Xi Jinping believes that the Party and the government’s strategy
of overall law-based governance must fully reflect the principal position of
the people. To guide the participation of the broad masses of the people, it is
necessary to create a good law enforcement and law-abiding social atmosphere. This fully shows that only when the
law is revered and respected by the people can it exert its maximum force. The
specific implementation path of the observance of the law by everyone can be
started from the following three aspects. Firstly, implement the work of popularizing
the law among the whole people and establish the concept of equality. In the
process of promoting law popularization, excellent deeds and models should be
discovered to encourage the people to keep up with these models. At the same
time, the participation mechanism in law popularization should be broadened to
enrich law popularization resources and expand the scope of law popularization.
Meanwhile, on the basis of traditional news communication carriers, new forms
should be explored to make full use of the communication role of mobile phones,
the Internet, television and other media. Secondly, implement the punishment
and reward system to enhance public awareness of the rule of law. A mechanism
for dishonest behavior has been established to severely punish the seriously
dishonest behavior of market subjects, and to improve personal credit records.
The major theoretical viewpoints on the issues of the relationship between
morality and law, the basis of major reform in the law and the legalization of
social governance in Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law have been
comprehensively implemented into the process of the construction of the social
credit system to promote the legalization of the social credit system, and then
serve the improvement of social governance standard system and the
modernization of social governance.As the largest developing country, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought
on the Rule of Law, China adheres to the development of people-centered philosophy, and promotes the
modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. In
this sense, there are a great number of theoretical values in Xi Jinping
Thought on the Rule of Law with the distinctive characteristics of the
people-oriented nature.A. Providing the
Latest Achievements for Marxism to Adapt
to China’s ConditionsXi Jinping
Thought on the Rule of Law provides the latest achievements for Marxism on the
Rule of Law to adapt to China’s conditions. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of
Law is based on China’s reality, starting from China’s practice of rule of law,
endows Marxism on the Rule of Law with the significance of the times and
creatively enriches the people-oriented nature of Marxism on the Rule of Law.
At the fundamental level, the capability of the CPC and the strengths of
socialism with Chinese characteristics are attributable to the fact that
Marxism works. The people-oriented nature is the most distinctive character of
Marxism and the most distinctive character of Marxism on the Rule of Law. In
the centennial process of adaptation of Marxism on the Rule of Law to China’s
conditions, the Chinese Communists founded Mao Zedong Legal Thought, the Theory
of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics, and Xi Jinping Thought
on the Rule of Law, realizing three historic leaps in the adaptation of Marxism
on the Rule of Law to China’s conditions. The people-oriented nature of Xi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law is not a simple restatement of the
people-oriented nature advocated by the classical Marxist writers, but is
generated by combining Marxism with China’s conditions of the construction of
the rule of law since the 18th CPC National Congress, which has the excellent
character of keeping pace with the times in theory and practice. As the
theoretical achievement of the third historic leap in the sinicization of
Marxism on the Rule of Law, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, upholding
that the principal position of the people is deeply rooted in the people, fully
embodies the will of the people and firmly protects the interests of the
people, consolidates the principal position of the people in overall law-based
governance and improves the value contribution of the thought of the rule of
law, which provides the people-centered basic position, viewpoint and method
for further promoting overall law-based governance in the new era and lays a
solid foundation for Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to become the
latest achievement of for Marxism to adapt to China’s conditions. With the
progress of the times and the development of practice, the people-oriented nature of Xi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law will continue to be enriched and improved,
which is not only the internal requirement of the modernization of Marxism on
the Rule of Law, but also the logical necessity of the adaptation of Marxism on
the Rule of Law to China’s conditions.B. Providing
Guidance for Promoting the Overall
Law-Based GovernanceAs the core of
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the people-oriented nature provides
value guidance for coordinating all aspects of the relationship of overall
law-based governance. Overall law-based governance must correctly handle the
relationship between politics and the rule of law, reform and the rule of law,
and the law-based governance and the virtue-based governance. Take the correct understanding and handling of the relationship
between politics and the rule of law as an example, politics and the rule of
law are both superstructure categories, which complement each other and are
inseparable. There is politics in the rule of law, and there is no rule of law
divorced from politics. There is a set of political theory behind every form of
rule of law, there is a political logic in every model of the rule of law, and
there is a political position under every road of the rule of law. In China,
the key to dealing with the relationship between politics and the rule of law
is to deal with the relationship between the Party and the law. The
relationship between the Party and the law is a concentrated reflection of the
relationship between politics and the rule of law. The relationship between the
Party and the law is a fundamental issue. If it is handled well, the rule of
law, the Party and the country will prosper; if it is not handled well, the
rule of law, the Party and the country will decline. The purpose of the Party
is to serve the people wholeheartedly. The purpose of the Party’s leadership in
the construction of the rule of law is to enhance people’s democracy and
people’s well-being and meet the needs of the people for a better life.
Therefore, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law not only fully reflects the
people-oriented nature of the Party and the law, but also makes the people the
axis in coordinating the relationship between politics and the rule of law.
Taking the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as
the value index to guide and coordinate the relationship between politics and
the rule of law is conducive to actively and steadily promoting the
construction of socialist rule of law. Actively and steadily promoting the
construction of socialist rule of law is conducive to strengthening and
improving the Party’s leadership by taking advantage of the mode of the rule of
law, so as to improve the Party’s ability and level of ruling according to the
law, and make the Party’s leadership more stable and far-reaching, which in
turn provides a more fundamental, stable and long-term political guarantee for
the construction of socialist rule of law, and forms a benign interaction
between the Party’s leadership and overall law-based governance to ensure the
long-term stability of the Party and the country and truly benefit the people.C. Providing
Directions for Building a
Socialist Country Based on the Rule of LawXi Jinping Thought
on the Rule of Law points out the direction for building a socialist country
ruled by law with Chinese characteristics in an all-round way. Since the 18th
CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese
Characteristics for a New Era has provided a powerful ideological weapon for
realizing the Chinese modernization. It is precisely under the correct guidance
of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era
and through the unremitting struggle of the people of the whole country that a
historic victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects
has been achieved. The construction of the socialist rule of law has also
undergone historic changes and made achievements, opening a new journey of
building a modern socialist country in all respects. Building a modern
socialist country in an all-round way is inseparable from the reliable
guarantee of the rule of law and the correct guidance of the thought of the
rule of law. At a new historical starting point, looking back on the past, it
has been deeply found that over the past 70 years since the founding of the People’s
Republic of China, the reason why China has created the ‘two wonders’ of rapid
economic development and long-term social stability is closely related to
continuous promotion of the socialist rule of law; On the journey ahead, it is
firmly believed that on the new journey of building a modern socialist country
in an all-round way, more attention should be paid to the rule of law and the
enforcement of the rule of law, giving better play to the guarantee role of the
rule of law in consolidating the foundation, stabilizing expectations and
benefiting long-term interests. The people-oriented nature is the distinct
characteristic of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and it is also the
core idea of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a
New Era. As a major theoretical innovation that meets the requirements of the
great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law
has important guiding significance for the Party to lead the people of the
whole country to promote high-quality development and realize high-quality life
under the guidance of the rule of law at a new historical starting point. On
the new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, a
key point to give better play to the role of the rule of law in consolidating
the foundation, stabilizing expectations and benefiting the long-term
development is to always adhere to the people-centered concept of the rule of
law and implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, so as to provide a
strong rule of law guarantee for the overall layout of coordinated
implementation of the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged
comprehensive strategy, provide more satisfactory products of the rule of law
for the well-being of the people and the stability of society in modern
socialist countries, make the people have more sense of fulfillment, happiness
and security, and ensure the smooth construction of a prosperous, strong,
democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country in the
middle of this century.D. Contributing
Chinese Wisdom to the Reform of Global GovernanceXi
Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law contributes Chinese wisdom to the
construction of the rule of law for all mankind and the reform of global
governance. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core,
starting from the great changes that have not occurred in the world in a
century, scientifically answers the questions of the times that ‘what is wrong
with the world, what should we do and what can be done by the rule of law’,
which is the Chinese wisdom that contributes to the construction of the rule of
law and the reform of global governance. The rule of law is the basic way of
modern governance and an important symbol of human civilization and progress.
President Xi Jinping once said, ‘why can our reform and development be
carried out in an orderly manner and the society maintain long-term stability?
A very important factor is that we always adhere to the people-centered development
philosophy, take the promotion of social fairness and justice and the
improvement of people’s well-being as the starting point and foothold of our
work, and strive to make the people have more sense of fulfillment, happiness
and security’. This is a concentrated summary of China’s development
experience. The essence of this experience is to base on national conditions,
uphold the people’s principal position, and put the people first. Adhering to
the people-centered Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law featured by the
people-oriented nature has not only made remarkable achievements and
accumulated valuable experience in solving China’s development and governance
problems, but also has reference significance for other developing countries to
solve their own development and governance problems. In the face of the
ever-changing international situation, under the guidance of the concept of a
community with a shared future for mankind, how to base ourselves on our
country, look to the world, play the role of a major and responsible country,
take advantage of the rule of law to benefit the people of all countries and
promote the reform of global governance is a major rule of law issue in today’s
world. President Xi Jinping believes that the Communist Party of China is the
Party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and strives for the cause of
human progress, and we should have confidence and strive to contribute to the
construction of world rule of law civilization with Chinese wisdom and Chinese practice.
Always upholding the principal position of the people in overall law-based
governance, and always adhering to the people-centered planning, layout and
strict implementation of the rule of law are the foundation and source of confidence
to contribute China’s wisdom to the construction of the rule of law and the
reform of global governance. President Xi Jinping pointed out that promoting
the construction of ‘the Belt and Road’
needs the protection of the rule of law. China wants to create a good environment
of the rule of law, and build a fair, reasonable and transparent international
economic and trade system with other countries, so as to promote the
high-quality development of ‘the Belt and Road’, and better benefit the people
of all countries. The Party will continue to work with all peace-loving countries
and peoples to promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness,
justice, democracy, and freedom. It is with such a global concept and the
responsibility of a big country that China links the construction of domestic
rule of law with the development of the interests of the people of the world,
and works with the people of all countries to promote the construction of ‘the
Belt and Road’ and a community with a shared future for mankind, which is a
true demonstration of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the
Rule of Law in the international community.China’s Constitution establishes the
people’s principal position and the leading position of the Communist Party of
China in the form of fundamental law, and the people’s interests are the
interests of the Party. The Party puts the interests of the people first at all
times. Therefore, the Party-oriented nature and the people-oriented nature are
fundamentally unified. The theoretical meaning is that the Party’s leadership,
the people being the masters of the country and the overall law-based governance
are organically unified in socialist democratic politics, and the overall
law-based governance is
the basic way for the Party to lead the people to govern the country. As the
logical axis of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the people-oriented
nature is not only the essential character of socialist rule of law with
Chinese characteristics, but also the essential character of democratic
politics with Chinese characteristics. The Party has in the people its roots,
its lifeblood, and its source of strength. The Party has always represented the
fundamental interests of all Chinese people; it stands with them through thick
and thin and shares a common fate with them. The Party has no special interests
of its own; it has never represented any individual interest group, power
group, or privileged stratum. On the new journey of building a modern socialist
country in an all-round way and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese
nation, only by keeping the hearts of the people well can we consolidate the
long-term ruling position of the Communist Party of China. The people-oriented
nature is the theoretical essence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. The
people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law comes from
firmly adhering to the people-oriented nature of Marxism on the Rule of Law, unremittingly pursuing the
original intention of the Communist Party of China to lead the construction of
the rule of law, inheriting and carrying forward the people-oriented thought in China’s
excellent traditional legal culture, and actively meeting the people’s needs
for a better life. The people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule
of Law has been fully reflected by upholding the people’s principal position,
protecting the people’s legitimate rights and interests, relying on the people
to promote the rule of law, and adhering to the people’s evaluation of the
effectiveness of the rule of law construction, which systematically
answers the basic questions of the value subject, right orientation, evaluation
criteria and source of strength of overall law-based governance. Therefore, in
the process of further promoting the work of overall law-based governance, to
show and practice the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, efforts should be made to focus
on the people-centered approach in sound legislation, serve the people in
strict law enforcement, put the people first in the impartial administration of
justice, and enhance the concept of equality in the observance of the law by
everyone. There is an important guiding significance of the people-oriented
nature of Xi Jinping Thought on
the Rule of Law in providing the latest achievements for Marxism to adapt to
China’s conditions, providing guidance for the overall planning and
coordination of all aspects of overall law-based governance, pointing out
the direction for the building of a socialist country based on the rule of law,
and contributing Chinese wisdom to the construction of the rule of law for all
mankind and the reform of global governance. Looking back on the path we have
traveled and forward to the journey that lies ahead, we should firmly grasp the
logical main line of the people-oriented nature of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law in deeply promoting overall
law-based governance,
the grasp of which is the grasp of value direction and action programme of
overall law-based governance and the upholding of the original aspiration of
socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.