Advancing Chinese modernization under the rule of law

Editor's note: Wang Ruolei, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a professor of the Department of Political and Legal Studies at Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Chinese modernization is and will still be a central task for the Communist Party of China (CPC), serving as the overarching goal guiding China's development. The Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC explicitly calls for building "a modern socialist country in all respects under the rule of law," and "all work of the state to be carried out under the rule of law." It means that the rule of law will play a more important role in the process of Chinese modernization.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has prioritized the rule of law with unprecedented focus, emphasizing deliberate planning and rigorous enforcement. This commitment has driven key developments in Party history, such as the first Central Committee plenary session on law-based governance, the first meeting on comprehensively advancing law-based governance, the establishment of the Commission for Law-based Governance under the CPC Central Committee, chaired by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping, and the first Party Congress report featuring a dedicated section on the rule of law.

These initiatives highlight Party's strong commitment to the rule of law. As Chinese modernization takes center stage for the foreseeable future, the explicit mandate that it must progress under the rule of law makes the significance of this commitment even clearer.

Xi underscores the critical role of the rule of law in driving modernization, calling it "one of the most important accomplishments of human civilization." He points out that its core principles are vital for national and social governance worldwide. According to Xi, the rule of law is essential for every country's modernization journey. Historical examples show that nations that successfully modernized did so by balancing the rule of law with the rule of man. In contrast, countries that grew quickly but neglected the rule of law often saw progress stall or even reverse.

Therefore, the rule of law will be crucial in China's ongoing push for modernization. In the past, China's reform and opening up relied on a "crossing the river by feeling the stones" approach. But as the legal system and institutions have matured, citizens been better educated, and demand for a better life become stronger, a new approach is needed. Today's modernization demands strong institutions, clear rules and a solid legal foundation. Economic growth and development must now occur within the framework of the rule of law, that is, creating sound systems and regulations, and, crucially, adhering to them consistently.

The rule of law is essential in ensuring stable expectations and delivering long-term benefits in modernization. At the core of modernization lies economic development, and today's market-based economy thrives on the rule of law. As Xi has noted, a market economy is inherently governed by law. By providing stable, transparent rules that protect property rights and enforce contracts, the rule of law ensures predictability, encourages lawful business practices, and establishes clear boundaries against violations – key ingredients for a flourishing market economy.

As China's modernization progresses, the rule of law is crucial to ensuring fairness and justice amid shifting social contradictions. The Report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC noted that China now faces the contradiction between "unbalanced and inadequate development, and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life." In modern society, the pursuit of a good life has expanded to include rising expectations for democracy, law, fairness, justice and security – demands that the rule of law is key to fulfilling.

Furthermore, Chinese modernization requires unified legal standards to govern a nation of over 1.4 billion people, vast territories and diverse ethnicities. As Xi emphasized, the rule of law is essential for maintaining national unity, consistent legal systems, integrated markets, and achieving broad goals such as economic progress, political integrity, and social justice. In a country of this scale, the rule of law aligns and unifies the extensive modernization process.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)