Nation needs more top legal talent, he says

President Xi Jinping called for more efforts to promote the rule of law and the development of high-quality legal talent during a visit to the China University of Political Science and Law on Wednesday.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark ahead of Youth Day, which falls on Thursday.

The comprehensive advancement of the rule of law is a long-term and significant historic mission, and is related to the Party's governing and rejuvenating the country. It is also related to the people's happiness and the development of the Party and the country, he said.

He said the country should look ahead to the future, lay out a good foundation and establish a good system while advancing the rule of law.

He also urged authorities to focus on key areas, emphasizing current issues, to promote the rule of law.

The comprehensive advancement of the rule of law would not be done satisfactorily without good efforts to cultivate legal talent, he said.

Xi also called for universities and colleges to step up research on the rule of law and other fundamental matters that involve legal issues to help improve the nation's socialist system with Chinese characteristics.

The country should also further improve its system of legal theory, and use Chinese wisdom and Chinese practice to contribute to the world's civilization on the rule of law.

China should actively learn from the achievements of other countries in the rule of law, but should also absorb and transform them selectively, to avoid blind borrowing and imitations.

The Party convened a plenary meeting of its central committee in October 2014 to further promote the rule of law. It was the first time that a plenary session of the CPC Central Committee had taken this topic as its central theme.

In a statement released after the plenary session, the Party said it will further emphasize the role of the Constitution in China's legal system. It also aims to improve judicial independence, promote procedural justice, professionalize judicial officers, and build a law-abiding government.

During the inspection trip, Xi also urged the country's youth to use their time for study, and to absorb knowledge like sponges. Youth is a crucial time to train a person's thinking and abilities, and young people should maintain their sensitivity to new things and explore new practices and truths in a daring way, he said.

xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn