China.org.cn | October 30, 2022
China News Service, Chinanews.com:
The report to the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out that national security is the bedrock for national rejuvenation and social stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous China. What will be done by public security organs to maintain social security and stability? Thank you.
Xu Ganlu:
The question of this journalist from China News Service concerns public security organs' major duties and work. I would be glad to answer it.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, public security organs across the country have followed the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implemented a series of important instructions and requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping about public security, and taken solid steps to advance the building of a peaceful China and the rule of law in China. We have taken strict precautions against and cracked down hard on infiltration, subversion, and sabotage activities and taken tough measures against all sorts of illegal and criminal activities infringing on the lives and property safety of the people, effectively safeguarding national security and social stability and ensuring that our people enjoy a peaceful life.
China has one of the lowest homicide rates in the world, with 0.5 cases per 100,000 residents. It is also among the countries with the lowest crime rates and fewest gun- and explosives-related cases. Over the past decade, the indexes concerning the five items, including criminal cases and accidents, have dropped sharply. In 2021, the number of cases involving eight major crimes, including homicides and rapes, dropped 64.4%; and the number of drug-related crimes, robberies, thefts, and traffic accidents with more than three deaths at one accident fell 56.8%, 96.1%, 62.6% and 59.3%, respectively. People's sense of security has been significantly improved. According to the National Bureau of Statistics survey in 2021, the sense of security reached 98.8%, up 11 percentage points from 2012. China has been widely acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world.
While creating a secure and stable social environment for the sustained and healthy development of the economy, public security organs have adopted a people-centered approach, taking the initiative in reforming services concerning the management of public order, household registration, traffic, and entry and exit. By focusing on the three major credentials that are closely related to people's daily life, namely, ID cards, driving licenses, and entry-exit documents, public security organs have continuously improved procedures and cut down unnecessary requirements. We were among the first to ensure services are accessible online no matter where applicants are. In regard to the 60 administrative items for approving and issuing documents, processing times are all shorter than the limit set by law. A series of policies and measures that benefit people and enterprises have brought great convenience to their study, work, production, and life, significantly boosting investment, trade, and business activities as well as innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, these measures have saved 220 billion yuan in costs and also saved a lot of time, benefiting hundreds of millions of people.
The miracles of sustained and healthy economic growth and social stability did not fall into our lap automatically, nor were they gained by waiting. Instead, they were earned under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and by the dedicated collective efforts of the Party and the people. Throughout their painstaking struggle, the public security police have made tremendous sacrifices. In the past 10 years, 3,799 police officers laid down their lives, and over 50,000 police officers were injured, which fully demonstrated their political character of being loyal to the Party, serving the people, enforcing the law in an impartial way, and strictly following disciplines. They set examples of being loyal guardians for the Party and the people in the new era.
National security is the bedrock of national rejuvenation, and social stability is a prerequisite for building a strong and prosperous China. This is an important judegement made by General Secretary Xi Jinping in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress. Embarking on the new journey in the new era, public security organs will earnestly implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and faithfully carry out tasks and duties entrusted by the Party and the people in the new era. Public security organs will remain firm in upholding a holistic approach to national security and fully act on the new decisions and requirements for modernizing the national security system and its capacities. Efforts will be made to fend off and defuse all kinds of risks and potential problems that endanger social security. Public security organs will launch regular crackdowns on organized crimes and root out local criminal gangs. Continuous efforts will be made to counter crimes of strong public concern. Public security organs will focus more on giving a bigger role to the rule of law, science and technology, and public participation. Public security organs will pay more attention to the reform of institutions and mechanisms of the police and our work at the grassroots level. Public security organs will keep public security work more technology-based and innovative with wider public participation. The goals of our work is to make crackdowns on crimes more targeted and regulations more efficient and to provide more high-quality services. In doing so, we will make new contributions to safeguarding national security, social stability, and people's interests.
That's all for my answer.