Xi urges use of new code to protect rights

Measure adopted by National People's Congress backs law-based governance 

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping called on Friday for advancing the implementation of the newly adopted Civil Code so it can be used to better serve the country's comprehensively law-based governance and safeguard the people's rights and interests.

Xi made the remark while presiding over a group study session of the CPC Central Committee's Political Bureau on the first law defined as a "code" in the country.

Xi hailed the important status of the code in the legal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and described it as a basic law that has fundamental significance, stabilizes people's expectations and benefits future development.

It is significant for the nation to promote comprehensive law-based governance and step up construction of a socialist country ruled by law as well as developing the socialist market economy and improving the country's basic socialist economic system, Xi said.

It is also conducive to sticking to a people-centered development philosophy, protecting people's rights and interests according to the law, promoting the country's human rights cause and advancing the modernization of the country's governance system and capacity, he added.

The Civil Code was adopted by the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Thursday, and will take effect on Jan 1.

In addition to general and supplementary provisions, the Civil Code includes six parts on real rights, contracts, personality rights, marriage and family, inheritance and tort liabilities. Experts said the legislation also contributes to the global drive to protect people's rights, as the Civil Code provides a legislative reference on how to promote fairness, justice, dignity and each and every person's right to pursue happiness.

Xi stressed that the Civil Code reflects the country's socialist nature, conforms to the people's interests and expectations, abides by the country's development and also provides equal protection for people's rights in such areas as life and health, property security, facilitation of transactions and human dignity.
He called for efforts to strengthen popularization of and education on the code among the people, emphasizing that learning about the Civil Code should be a part of the national educational system.

Xi urged government departments to be fully aware of the scope and limit of their power in fulfilling their duties. Governmental departments, oversight agencies and the judiciary should exercise their powers according to the law, and people's civil rights must be protected, he added.

Xi underlined the need to revise or improve related laws so that they will be consistent with the stipulations and principles of the Civil Code when it takes effect.

Saying civil cases always matter to people's immediate rights, he urged judicial departments to improve their work style and efficiency and raise the public credibility of the judiciary.

Xi stressed the need to strengthen protection of people's rights while adjudicating civil cases in key fields including property, personality and intellectual property rights and environmental protection.

He called for responding to people's concerns in a timely manner and enabling legal professionals to help people protect their legal rights and interests.