Road map for promoting the rule of law

Editor's Note: The Fourth Plenum of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee, held Oct 20 to 23 in Beijing, clarified a road map to "the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics".

The plenum was the most important meeting of the new Chinese leadership after the Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee late last year, which specified urgent reforms in 60 key areas of the economy and society. The Fourth Plenum communique serves as a guide for action plans by government bodies to implement a more robust rule of law throughout the country. The plenum clarified many relationships between legislative, administrative and judicial organs.

If the initiative can be carried out well, social friction will be relieved, and tensions will be eased under a new set of rules that add vitality both to society and the marketplace, and which will help focus the governments' energy on serving the people.