China News Service:

We have noticed that, for the first time, the report to the 20th CPC National Congress has taken advancing the rule of law as a separate section and made arrangements accordingly. Some people believe this fully shows that the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to exercising law-based governance on all fronts. I would like to ask, regarding the law-based governance in the field of civil affairs, what progress has been made by the MCA? What considerations and plans does the MCA have for the next step? Thank you.

Tang Dengjie:

Thank you for your questions. Further studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and earnestly implementing the major arrangements on advancing the rule of law made by the 20th CPC National Congress remain important requirements for us to ensure the high-quality development of civil affairs services and guarantee the basic rights and interests of the people utilizing our civil affairs services. Mr. Li will elaborate on your questions.

Li Baojun:

As widely recognized, the rule of law works as a safeguard to consolidate the foundation, stabilize expectations, and deliver long-term benefits. In recent years, the MCA has adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, deeply studied and meticulously practiced Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and achieved noticeable progress. Next, I will outline our progress from the following three aspects: legislation, law enforcement, and law popularization.

Regarding legislation, centering around our responsibilities to ensure people's basic livelihood, community-level social governance, and basic social services, the MCA has promoted the formulation and revision of six laws and regulations, including the Civil Code, the Law on the Protection of Minors, the Regulations on the Management of Administrative Divisions, and the Regulations on the Administration of Geographic Names. The MCA has also led the drafting of four formulation or revision drafts of laws and regulations, including the Law on Social Assistance, the Regulations on the Registration and Management of Social Organizations, and the Regulations on the Management of Funeral and Burial. The MCA has also, separately or jointly with relevant departments, formulated and revised six departmental regulations including management measures for elderly care institutions and child welfare institutions. So far, China has launched a total of nine laws and 18 administrative regulations to standardize the functions of civil affairs departments. The MCA has also issued 45 regulations and rules and more than 170 administrative regulatory documents. In addition, local governments have rolled out over 800 local laws and regulations. It's fair to say that we have generally achieved law-based governance in the work of civil affairs. Meanwhile, in certain areas, there is still a lack of fundamental laws, and some policies and regulations fail to meet the requirements of the new era. Promoting legislation in these areas will be our focus for the next step.

In terms of law enforcement, the MCA has streamlined procedures relating to administrative licensing and canceled certification-associated matters made by departmental regulations and regulatory documents. In response to the prominent problems strongly reflected by the public, we have continuously carried out concentrated rectifications to address issues in rural subsistence allowances and cracked down on pension fraud and illegal social organizations. We have handled administrative reviews, responded to lawsuits in accordance with the law, and effectively promoted law-based governance in the field of civil affairs. For the next step, in accordance with the requirements of the report to the 20th CPC National Congress to steadily advance law-based government administration, we will adopt a more vigorous approach in exercising law-based governance, in alignment with the practical aspects of civil affairs. We will fully implement the lists of powers and obligations, improve the law-based decision-making mechanisms, upgrade administrative law enforcement procedures, and enhance the administrative law enforcement capacity.

Regarding the publicity of law, over the last few years, the MCA has implemented the seventh five-year plan on enhancing legal awareness across the national civil affairs system and formulated the eighth one. We have also held oath-taking ceremonies for newly appointed officials to pledge allegiance to the Constitution and carried out publicity activities centering around the Constitution, the Civil Code, the Charity Law, the Law on the Guarantee of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, and the Law on the Protection of Minors, which have achieved noticeable results. For the next step, we will continue to step up efforts to popularize the law. We will concentrate on issues of great concern, such as the protection of the rights and interests of the elderly, the disabled, and minors while guiding cadres and staff across our system to respect and abide by the law. We will intensify efforts to popularize the law in a timely and precise manner, promote public welfare through law popularization, and strive to achieve better results. Thank you.