Chinese judicial official puts weight behind CPC principles

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China’s Vice Minister of Justice Xiong Xuanguo Thursday said the law enforcement and judicial agencies would adhere to the principles set forth last year at the 19th National Congress of the CPC.

Justice Ministry would work to promote justice and guarantee public safety, he told a press conference.

Delegates attend the closing of the 19th National Congress of the CPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 24, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

The 19th National Congress had set new requirements on law-based governance and judicial administration reforms, he said adding that the Justice Ministry is “working to establish a more unified judicial system by improving prison management, coverage of legal aid and increasing the number of administrative notary offices across the country".

The ministry said it is stepping up educational and vocational training for judicial staff members and lawyers.

Xiong elaborated that further revisions were made to the National Judicial Examination system – a unified legal examination administered by the Chinese government – to better standardize and improve the efficiency of the qualification process.

Examinees take the National Judicial Examiniation in Wuhan, Hubei Province. /VCG Photo

The ministry is also establishing a data sharing systems to improve communications between the law enforcement agencies to ensure a more unified, fair and transparent judicial system, Xiong added.

“Prison management, including penalties, is all part of the information that we’ve shared with the public,” said Fang Lyubing, Director of Judicial Research Institute.

“Service trails and inspection processes have all been open to the public as well… information on notarization, the jury system, forensic research and so on can also be found on various media platforms.”

Xiong said trials that do not infringe national security or personal privacy should be open to the public by law.

Official hinted transparency in China’s judicial system will see an increase in the future, with goals of increasing the accessibility and unification of public legal services.