"In the past 40 years, we have been committed to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, deepening the reform of the political system, and developing socialist democracy," said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech at a celebration event of China's 40 years of reform and opening-up in Beijing on Tuesday. 

"There has been substantial progress in pursuing law-based governance in all fields," Xi noted.

The Chinese socialist system of laws has been strengthened, providing stronger institutional and legal guarantees for the people to run the country, said Xi, adding that "in the field of human rights, progress has been achieved across the board."

He continued, "People enjoy and exercise a wider range of democratic rights as prescribed by the law through more readily available channels and in more diverse forms."