China's current Constitution was formulated and continuously improved under the leadership of the Party and on the basis of a profound summary of China's practical experience in socialist revolution, construction and reform. It achieves a high degree of unity between the Party's propositions and the people's will, has strong vitality, and provides a fundamental legal guarantee for reform, opening up and socialist modernization. The Party leads the people in formulating and improving the Constitution, which is to give play to the important role of the Constitution in the governance of the country. We must ensure the implementation of the Constitution with a scientific, effective and systematic system, strengthen oversight of the Constitution, safeguard the dignity of the Constitution, and raise the implementation of the Constitution to a new level. It is necessary to carry out publicity and education campaigns throughout the Party and society to respect, study, observe, safeguard and apply the Constitution, carry forward the spirit of the Constitution and establish its authority, so that all the people will become loyal advocates, consciously abide by and staunch defenders of the socialist rule of law.

The General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, together with the Central Publicity Department and the Ministry of Justice, held a symposium on "In-depth study, implementation of the Constitution and unswervingly Promoting reform and opening up" in Beijing on Thursday.

On December 4, the symposium "In-depth Study, Implement the Constitution and unswervingly Promote Reform and opening Up" was held in Beijing. Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended and delivered a speech at the symposium. Photo by Liu Weibing/Xinhua News Agency

Li Zhanshu pointed out that over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the Constitution has effectively guaranteed and promoted the development of the cause of the Party and the country, and valuable experience has been gained in implementing the Constitution. First, we will always uphold the leadership of the CPC as affirmed in the Constitution, uphold the Party's leadership over all work, and ensure that the Party leads the people in effectively governing the country. Second, we must put the people first and use institutions to ensure that the people are masters of the country and fulfill their aspirations for a better life. Third, in accordance with the country's fundamental tasks, development path, and goals set out in the Constitution, we will thoroughly implement the new vision for development and comprehensively build a great modern socialist country. Fourth, adhere to the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, continue to deepen the practice of law-based governance, and improve the rule of law in national political and social life. Fifth, firmly safeguard national unity, ethnic unity, and social stability. China's current constitution is a good one that conforms to the national conditions, realities and requirements of The Times, and must be firmly upheld, upheld for a long time, and fully implemented.

 We will strengthen oversight and inspection of the implementation of the Constitution and laws, promote the review of constitutionality, improve the mechanism for interpreting the Constitution, and effectively safeguard the dignity of the Constitution. We need to establish the authority of the Constitution, enhance public officials' awareness of the Constitution, implement institutional arrangements for publicity and education on the rule of law, make innovations in publicity and education on the Constitution, and strengthen theoretical research on the Constitution so that the Constitution will gain popular support.

Representatives from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, the Development Research Center of The State Council, the China Law Society, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and candidates for the Rule of Law Figure of 2018 addressed the symposium.

Yang Xiaodu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the National Supervisory Commission, and Cao Jianming, Wan Exiang and Hao Mingjin, vice chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress attended the symposium.

Heads of the special committees of the National People's Congress and the Working Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, heads of relevant departments of the central and state organs, and experts and scholars from some universities, research institutes and think tanks attended the symposium.