In a landmark push to cement the rule of law, the National People's Congress (NPC) and its standing committee in the Chinese mainland have enacted 36 new laws since 2021, focusing on high-quality growth, social wellbeing and environmental safeguards.
Data from the 14th Five-Year Plan period shows 63 revisions to existing legislation, 35 major legal decisions, and one formal legal interpretation. Today, this framework spans 306 national laws, over 600 administrative regulations and more than 14,000 local rules.
According to Shen Chunyao, director of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, four core aims have driven these efforts: boosting sustainable economic development, shaping a favorable internal and external environment, enhancing citizens' livelihoods through stronger legal institutions, and reinforcing environmental protection.
Key statutes like the Private Economy Promotion Law, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, the Personal Information Protection Law and the Yellow River Protection Law illustrate how policy is evolving to support businesses, safeguard personal data and champion ecological stewardship.
On the judicial front, He Xiaorong, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, reports that courts in the Chinese mainland concluded over 5.23 million criminal cases in first-instance trials, delivering a heavy blow to organized crime, telecom and online fraud, and cyberbullying. These rulings underpin efforts to build a peaceful society guided by clear legal norms.
The innovation economy also reaped benefits: 2.34 million intellectual property cases were resolved during this period, signaling robust legal backing for creativity and new technologies across markets.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
