SCIO briefing on National Constitution Publicity Week
Speakers:
Fu Zhenghua, minister of justice and head of the National Office for Law Popularization
Deng Chuanhuai, director-general of the Department of Policies and Regulations, Ministry of Education
Zong Jinyao, director-general of the Department of Regulations, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Chairperson:
Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office
Date:
Dec. 3, 2019
Hu Kaihong:
Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference. As Dec. 4 is National Constitution Day, we are delighted to invite Mr. Fu Zhenghua, minister of justice and head of the National Office for Law Popularization, to introduce issues related to the National Constitution Publicity Week, and introduce the work of law popularization and law-based governance. He will also answer some of your questions.
We also have with us today: Mr. Deng Chuanhuai, director-general of the Department of Policies and Regulations, Ministry of Education; and Mr. Zong Jinyao, director-general of the Department of Regulations, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Now, Mr. Fu will offer you a brief introduction.
Fu Zhenghua:
Ladies and gentlemen, media friends, good afternoon. Dec. 4, is the sixth National Constitution Day. From Dec. 1 to 7, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office for Law Popularization are jointly organizing the National Constitution Publicity Week to popularize knowledge related to the Constitution. On Dec. 1, the Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice jointly launched the major activities planned for the week in the two host cities of Beijing and Shanghai, marking the start of the publicity week.
Generally speaking, this year's publicity week has three distinct features.
First, it clearly puts the emphasis on the principles of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. The theme is clear: "Upholding the principles of the Constitution, modernizing the national governance system and capacity." The focus is on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping's new philosophy, new thoughts and new strategies on advancing law-based governance，the principles of the 19th CPC National Congress, and the principles of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Priority is being given to the popularization of knowledge related to the position, role and main content of the Constitution, the achievements of law-based governance in China, and the core values of socialism.
Second, the responsibility system of "whoever enforces the law shall popularize the law" has been thoroughly implemented alongside requiring the media to take up its social responsibility of popularizing the law. This year's publicity week consists of host-city activities and theme-day activities, with activities held in host cities focusing on different themes. From Dec. 1 to 7, different government departments under the central authorities will organize seven theme-day activities in enterprises, villages, government departments, schools, communities, armies and cyberspace. This is the first time we have organized the event in such a way. It's also a special feature of this year's publicity week. On the morning of Dec. 4, the General Office of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice will jointly organize a symposium on National Constitution Day. By requiring law-enforcing departments to popularize the law and enhancing media's role in the popularization of law-related knowledge, local governments and government departments under the central authorities have planned various closely-connected events.
Third, we seek to ensure more people participate in the activities in a more devoted way, and make the activities more colorful. Besides major activities in the host cities and theme-day events, there will be other activities to vividly explain the principles of the Constitution to the public, and ensure they keep these principles in their everyday life.
Now, please allow me to briefly introduce some of the activities.
First, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office for Law Popularization, together with China Media Group, selected this year's Rule of Law Figures. The selection was conducted under the theme of "the Spirit of the Constitution, the Strength of the Rule of Law". A program regarding the awards ceremony will be broadcast on China Central Television tomorrow evening.
Second, open days encouraging the public to visit institutes and all departments of the Ministry of Justice have been held. For example, earlier this morning we held one about institutes, and those for other departments will soon be staged.
Third, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office for Law Popularization will hold a publicity event in Changshu, Jiangsu province with the theme of "Rule of Law Makes a Better Life".
Fourth, the Publicity Department of the CPC, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office for Law Popularization will co-organize the 16th exhibition and awards ceremony for animation and micro video works related to the exercise of rule of law.
Fifth, through the joint initiative of the National Office for Law Popularization and China State Railway Group, Constitution publicity films as well as micro video collection entitled "The Constitution and Me" were broadcast in more than 2,300 stations and on more than 2,500 high-speed trains.
Sixth, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office for Law Popularization organized the selection of 10 innovation cases of law popularization and legal governance, and designated the second batch of national legal publicity and education bases.
Seventh, on National Constitution Day on Dec. 4., telecommunications operators, including China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, will send short messages related to Constitution publicity to more than a billion mobile phone users nationwide.
Not long ago, the Ministry of Justice reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and its related bodies on promoting public legal education and other efforts to raise awareness of the Constitution. The Ministry of Justice is also exploring ways to put in place a checklist of laws that leaders and cadres should learn, as well as formulating lists and categories of both basic laws including the Constitution and other laws considered necessary in their respective sectors. These have been regarded as the fundamental task of promoting law knowledge among leaders and cadres; the basic grounds to evaluate their knowledge of law-based governance; and the primary content of their annual law-related reporting, so as to promote their role in leading study of the Constitution and other laws.
To raise public awareness of the Constitution is a long-term task, and also the major duty of the Ministry of Justice. Following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly put into practice the guiding principles from the Party's 19th National Congress and the second, third and fourth plenary sessions of the 19th Party Central Committee, promoting study and knowledge of the Constitution on a regular and institutionalized basis, so that every week can become a "Constitution Publicity Week" and every day a "Constitution Publicity Day".
That's all for my brief introduction. Next, myself and my two colleagues Mr. Deng Chuanhuai and Mr. Zong Jinyao are ready to answer your questions. Thank you.
Hu Kaihong:
Thank you, Mr. Fu. Now, the floor is open to questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising your questions.
