BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping urged bars to play a better bridging role in a letter sent to the ninth congress of the China Law Society, which opened Friday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for innovation in the cause of professional law societies.
Recognizing the role of bar associations in comprehensively promoting law-based governance, Xi said they should uphold the overall leadership of the Party and continue to serve the broader goals of the Party and the country.
He urged bars at all levels to make concrete efforts to advance legal research, support the practice of the rule of law, raise public awareness and train legal professionals.
Lawyers and practitioners should consolidate trust in the rule of law and devote themselves to the crucial task of advancing law-based governance, Xi said.
Chen Wenqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, spoke at the opening of the congress.
We hope that legal professionals will do solid work to ensure strong legislation, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice and respect for the law throughout society, and contribute to advancing the Chinese modernization, Chen said.
Wang Chen, director of the China Law Society, chaired the meeting and presented a work report.
The meeting also recognized exemplary groups and individuals in the system of professional law societies nationwide.
