This November, China marks the fifth anniversary of the work meeting in Beijing that enshrined "Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law" as its guiding philosophy for legal governance.
At that two-day gathering on November 16-17, 2020, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping emphasized the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, integrating Party leadership, popular participation and law-based governance.
The roots of China’s legal framework stretch back to the Marriage Law of 1950, its first national statute. This groundbreaking act promoted monogamy and mandatory marriage registration, transforming age-old customs.
By 1982, China adopted its current Constitution, which has been amended five times since, reflecting ongoing legal reforms. A decade into the 21st century, China had built a full-fledged legal system, featuring 236 national laws, over 690 administrative regulations and more than 8,600 local norms by the end of 2010.
In 2020, lawmakers adopted the landmark Civil Code at the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress. Enforced on January 1, 2021, this unified code codified private law rules1covering marriage, property, contracts, inheritance and torts1replacing earlier standalone acts like the Marriage Law.
The legal profession has grown dramatically alongside these legislative milestones. By September this year, China counted over 830,000 practicing lawyersa 37 percent increase since 2020along with 67,000 arbitrators, 15,000 notaries, 40,000 forensic experts and 12,000 legal aid workers, collectively handling more than 40 million cases and services annually.
From a single act in 1950 to a comprehensive Civil Code and a booming legal workforce, China’s journey illustrates a maturing rule-of-law ecosystem driven by data, development and guiding principles that shape its long-term vision.
Reference(s):
From Marriage Law to Civil Code: The evolution of China's legal system
cgtn.com
