China Communist party plenum meet opens
October 20, 2014, 7:21 am

An earlier statement issued by the CPC Central Committee said rule of law is “a must” if the country wants to build social fairness [Xinhua]

The official focus of the fourth plenum of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is to discuss “the rule of law, aiming to speed up the construction of governance by law from the top level and by improving the system to promote social justice of the country”, says state media ahead of the meet.

Chinese leaders have vowed to achieve a set of judicial transparency goals by 2020 and ensuring “independence and fairness in courts”, part of the landmark reforms unveiled by the CPC in December 2013. In line with this, since 1^st January, 2014, courts across China have had to publish judgments online within seven days after judicial decisions as ordered by the Supreme People’s Court (SPC).

At the plenary meet that began today, 205 members of the Central Committee of the CPC will discuss ways to promote the modernization of the country’s governing system and capabilities. China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has promised transparency as a hallmark of his early tenure and the plenum meet this week will reveal the seriousness of his intent.

An earlier statement issued by the CPC Central Committee said rule of law is “a must” if the country wants to build social fairness and carry out comprehensive reforms.

Chinese authorities are also concerned the gulf between the rich and the poor in China is affecting growth by deterring consumption and holding down productivity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping last week asked authorities to mobilize all social forces to join the war against poverty.

China, which is poised to become the world’s largest economy, lifted around 660 million people out of poverty from 1978 to 2010, some 82 million people remain in poverty in rural areas as of the end of 2013, according to official data.

Rural people with an annual net income per capita of 2,300 yuan ($374.54) or less are classified as poor under standards adopted in 2011.

TBP and Agencies