Chinese Wisdom Crystallized

The Civil Code, approved by the National People’s Congress, the national legislature, in late May and to come into effect on January 1, 2021, is significant because first and foremost, it will help uphold and improve the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. It’s going to implement the new concepts, thoughts and strategies of law-based governance outlined by the top leadership, thereby advancing the modernization of the national governance system and capacity.

Second, the document, which is a systemic reorganization and compilation of currently scattered civil legal systems, puts the people at the center. With its focus on protecting civil rights, it will safeguard the fundamental interests of the people, regulating all civil activities throughout a person’s life, from birth to death. This responds to people’s demand for rule of law and even their growing need for a better life. It will fully realize, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, making it a code of law for protecting civil rights within China in the new era. All legitimate civil conducts will be protected by this code.

Third, combining law-based governance and virtue-based governance, the code will carry forward China’s traditional culture, while including socialist core values in civil legal norms. This will promote traditional virtues and social morality, strengthen public awareness of rules and uphold public order and morals.

As the Chinese economy grows rapidly and reform and opening up deepens, the civil legal system needs improvement as well. The Civil Code, reflecting the character of the times and the will of the people, will not only improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, but also highlight its achievements and China’s institutional confidence. By improving and enriching civil rights, it will establish a more complete system of civil rights and better protect people’s rights and interests.

It will also benefit trade and the economy by creating a market environment where market players of all types of ownership have equal access to resources in accordance with the law, compete in an open and fair way and enjoy equal protection.

The document, the first since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, will also play a historical and wider role, ensuring development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the rule of law for the world.