POLITICAL REFORMS PROMOTED

In 2015, the CPC Central Committee has ensured political reforms follow a political development path characterized by Socialism with Chinese Characteristics while improving the People's Congress system.

Progress to promote the system of People's Congress included scientific and democratic legislation.

The National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliamentary body, adopted a revision to the Legislation Law at its annual session in March 2015.

The revised law, which improved the legislative system and further clarified legislative power while streamlining procedures, is of great significance to China's socialist legal system.

Moreover, a CPC Central Committee document in February 2015 proposed stepping up "consultative democracy" to improve scientific and democratic policy-making.

Consultative democracy is defined as a democratic pattern in which, led by the CPC, all sections of society are consulted on major issues before and during the policy-making process.

China also issued a guideline to promote law-based governance, vowing to build a rule-of-law government by 2020.

To achieve these goals and solve prominent problems in governing in accordance with the law, guidelines are needed to serve as "a blueprint and roadmap."

A rule-of-law government features scientific functions, statutory rights and responsibilities, strict law enforcement, openness, justice and integrity, while being free of corruption, efficient and observant of the law.

To promote social equity and justice, a series of measures have been taken to improve judicial reform in the past year.

Officials who interfere in judicial cases will now be "named and shamed," to prevent this practice and advance the rule of law.

According to rules issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the General Office of the State Council in early 2015, judicial personnel are obliged to keep detailed records should interference occur, no matter who is involved.