SELECTED WORKS OF XI JINPING ON THE RULE OF LAW (Volume I)

Published by: Central Compilation & Translation Press

Edition: May 2026

Editor's Note

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has positioned, planned, and pursued the rule of law from the strategic perspective of ensuring lasting peace and stability for the Party and the country. It has put forward the principle of comprehensively advancing law-based governance, incorporated it into the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, and vigorously promoted its progress. This has brought about historic transformations and accomplishments in China’s socialist rule of law, driven new leaps forward in both the theory and practice of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and given rise to Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law constitutes an integral component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It systematically summarizes the Party’s rich experience and valuable insights gained from leading the advancement of the rule of law, elevating the Party’s understanding of the laws governing socialist rule of law and the world legal development to a new historical height. Making major original and integrative contributions to the development of Marxist theory on the rule of law, it provides fundamental guidance and a clear roadmap for advancing law-based governance on all fronts and building a modern socialist country in all respects under the rule of law in the new era. This book is designed to assist officials and the public in studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law.

The works in this collection are arranged in chronological order. Volume I comprises 69 of the most important and foundational writings by President Xi Jinping on rule-of-law issues, spanning from December 2012 to February 2025. These include reports, remarks, speeches, directives, and instructions, some of which are published here for the first time. During compilation, minor textual revisions have been made to certain pieces. To facilitate readers’ understanding, endnotes have been added where necessary.

Institute of Party History and Literature

of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

November 2025


Contents

Speech at a Gathering of Representatives from All Sectors of Society in Beijing to Mark the 30th Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Current Constitution

December 4, 2012

Ensuring People Feel Fairness and Justice in Every Case

January 3, 2013

Making All-Around Efforts to Ensure Sound Legislation, Strict Law Enforcement, Impartial Administration of Justice, and Society-Wide Observance of the Law

February 23, 2013 

Governing the Country through Institutions and the Law

November 12, 2013

The Party’s Leadership and Socialist Rule of Law Are in Accord with Each Other

January 7, 2014

Pursuing Fairness and Justice as Core Values for the Judiciary and Law Enforcement

January 7, 2014

Securing the People’s Peace and Contentment Is the Fundamental Goal of the Judiciary and Law Enforcement

January 7, 2014

Strict Law Enforcement and Impartial Justice

January 7, 2014

Forging a Judicial and Law Enforcement Corps of Steadfast Conviction, Public Dedication, Courageous Responsibility, and Unwavering Integrity

January 7, 2014

Accelerating the Development of a Socialist Judicial System That Is Fair, Efficient, and Authoritative

January 7, 2014

Upholding Constitution-Based Governance and Exercise of State Power

February 17, 2014

Safeguarding National Security and Social Stability

April 25, 2014

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as a Historic Benchmark for International Relations and Law

June 2014–June 2024 

The People’s Congress System: A Fundamental Institution for Ensuring Unity between Leadership by the Party, the Running of the Country by the People, and Law-Based Governance

September 5, 2014

Upholding the Unity between Law-Based Governance of the Country and Regulation-Based Self-Governance of the Party

October 2014–January 2022

Explanation of the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Certain Major Issues concerning Comprehensively Advancing the Law-Based Governance of China

October 20, 2014

Fully Understanding the Significance of Comprehensively Advancing Law-Based Governance

October 23, 2014

Accelerating the Building of a Socialist Country under the Rule of Law

October 23, 2014

Maintaining Unity between Reform and the Rule of Law

October 2014–October 2024

Safeguarding the Practice of One Country, Two Systems in Accordance with the Law to Promote Enduring Prosperity and Stability in Hong Kong and Macao

November 2014–December 2024

Directive regarding the First National Constitution Day

December 3, 2014

Enhancing the Rule of Law in National Defense and Military Development

December 26, 2014

Upholding Law-Based Governance, Exercise of State Power, and Government Administration

February 2, 2015

Officials Should Set an Example in Respecting, Studying, Abiding by, and Applying the Law

February 2, 2015

Party Leadership Is the Soul of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics

February 2, 2015

Understanding Law-Based Governance within the Context of the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy

February 2, 2015

Deepening Judicial Structural Reform and Ensuring Impartial Administration of Justice

March 24, 2015

Strengthening Checks and Oversight on Power by Developing Rules and Regulations for Combating Corruption and Upholding Integrity

June 26, 2015

Ensuring Enforcement of Laws and Regulations to Combat Corruption and Uphold Integrity

June 26, 2015

Law-Based Governance of the Armed Forces Hinges on the Law-Based Regulation of Power

November 24, 2015

Upholding Law-Based Governance in Cyberspace

December 2015–April 2018 

Reform as an Engine and the Rule of Law as a Guarantee for Implementing the New Development Philosophy

January 18, 2016

A New Type of Relationship between Government and Business Featuring Cordiality and Cleanness

March 4, 2016

Core Element and Key Approach for Comprehensive Law-Based Governance

July 1, 2016

Rule of Law and Rule of Virtue Complement and Reinforce Each Other

December 9, 2016

Improving the Training of Legal Professionals

May 3, 2017

Address at a National Conference to Commend Heroes and Role Models from Public Security Organs

May 19, 2017

Holding High the Banner of Cooperation, Innovation, the Rule of Law, and Mutual Benefit and Working Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity Based on Universal Security

September 26, 2017 

Exercising Law-Based Governance on All Fronts

October 18, 2017

Upholding the Unity between Leadership by the Party, the Running of the Country by the People, and Law-Based Governance

October 18, 2017

Advancing Law-Based Governance

October 18, 2017

Improving the Rural Governance System that Integrates Self-Governance, the Rule of Law, and the Rule of Virtue

December 28, 2017

Fully Understanding the Major Significance of Amending the Constitution

January 19, 2018

Faithfully Respecting and Rigorously Implementing the Constitution

January 19, 2018

China’s Constitution Embodies a Strong Unity between the Party’s Propositions and the Will of the People

February 24, 2018

Speech at the First Meeting of the Central Rule of Law Commission

August 24, 2018

Deepening the Reform of the National Supervision System at a New Juncture

December 13, 2018

Advancing the Peaceful China Initiative to a Higher Level

January 15, 2019

Making Solid Progress in Comprehensive Law-Based Governance

February 25, 2019

On Ensuring Strict, Procedure-Based, Impartial, and Non-Abusive Law Enforcement

May 7, 2019

Directive on the Work of Local People’s Congresses and Their Standing Committees

July 17, 2019

The Socialist State System and Legal System with Chinese Characteristics: A Workable, Effective, and Efficient Institutional Framework

September 24, 2019

Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Modernizing China’s System and Capacity for Governance

October 31, 2019

Advancing Comprehensive Law-Based Governance and Leveraging the Rule of Law in Modernizing the National System and Capacity for Governance

February 5, 2020

Implementing the Civil Code Effectively

May 29, 2020

Resolutely Following the Path of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics to Provide Powerful Legal Guarantees for Building China into a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects

November 16, 2020

Comprehensively Strengthening IP Protection to Stimulate Innovation Vitality for Fostering a New Development Pattern

November 30, 2020

Accelerating Improvements to the Socialist Legal System with Chinese Characteristics

October 13, 2021

Advancing Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics on All Fronts

December 6, 2021

Steadfastly Following the Chinese Path of Human Rights Development to Promote Further Progress

February 25, 2022

Implementing the Strategy of Running the Military in Accordance with the Law to Provide Robust Legal Safeguards for Building a Strong Military

March 7, 2022

Ensuring the Healthy Development of Capital through Law-Based Regulation and Guidance

April 29, 2022

Exercising Law-Based Governance on All Fronts and Advancing the Rule of Law in China

October 16, 2022

Writing a New Chapter in the Practice of China’s Constitution in the New Era

December 19, 2022

Directive on Judicial and Law Enforcement Work

January 6, 2023

Strengthening the Rule of Law in Foreign-Related Affairs

November 27, 2023

Speech at the Ceremony Marking the 70th Anniversary of the National People’s Congress

September 14, 2024

Letter to the Ninth National Congress of the China Law Society

January 10, 2025

Advancing the Peaceful China Initiative to a Higher Level: A Key Goal and Guarantee for Chinese Modernization

February 28, 2025