China grows strong in rule of law with matters in foreign affairs

China's construction of rule of law in matters of foreign parties has been promoted as of last year, with more lawyers capable of handling cases involving foreign affairs, a report said on Monday.

The Annual Report of Rule of Law in China, which was issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Law, showed that China has owned over 12,000 foreign-related lawyers in 2023, 4,800 more than that in 2018.

Chinese law firms also opened 180 branches in the world's 35 countries and regions, up 47.5 percent compared with 2018, the report said.

The increases mean that China's efforts in establishing legal institutes, educating legal talents and optimizing legal services involving foreign affairs have been further advanced, it said.

As more Chinese legal workers go global, 158 law firms from 20 nations also set up 208 representative bodies in China last year, it added.

In addition, in 2023, China formulated laws on foreign state immunity and foreign relations, with revisions to the Counter-Espionage Law and foreign-related chapter in the Civil Procedure Law, accelerating its legislative step involving foreign affairs to guarantee high-level opening-up.