[Explanation] On March 25, at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council, Xiong Xuanguo, a member of the Office of State Administration by Law and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, introduced that by the end of 2020, the team of Chinese lawyers had grown to more than 520,000. An indispensable and important force for comprehensively governing the country according to law.
He said that in the process of advancing scientific legislation, lawyers have played an important role.
[Concurrent] Xiong Xuanguo, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a member of the Central Government’s Office of Rule of Law
Let me give you an example. At the National Two Sessions this year, a total of 36 lawyer representatives attended the meeting and put forward 163 proposals for various proposals, including 74 proposals for legislation.
Our national legislation, including in the process of local legislation, requires the opinions of lawyers associations and lawyers (representatives) to be heard. Therefore, (lawyers) have played a very important role in the process of advancing scientific legislation.
[Explanation] Xiong Xuanguo revealed that at present, Chinese lawyers handle approximately 6 million criminal, civil, and administrative litigation cases each year, and handle approximately 1 million legal aid cases, which play an important role in promoting judicial justice.
He said that it is necessary to strengthen the protection of lawyers' rights to practice.
[Concurrent] Xiong Xuanguo, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a member of the Central Government’s Office of Rule of Law
We need to strengthen the protection of lawyers’ right to practice. In recent years, the promotion of lawyer defense in criminal cases and full coverage of legal assistance has progressed very quickly. It should be said that this goal will be achieved across the country soon. All criminal cases require the participation of lawyers. Legal assistance and participation in criminal defense.
[Explanation] There are currently more than 12,000 foreign-related lawyers in China, and Chinese law firms have established more than 150 overseas branches in 35 countries and regions.
Xiong Xuanguo said that it is necessary to accelerate the training of high-quality foreign lawyers to better serve the construction and development of the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
[Concurrent] Xiong Xuanguo, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a member of the Central Government’s Office of Rule of Law
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, we coordinated the domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law to meet the needs of this higher level of opening to the outside world, and the role of lawyers in foreign-related rule of law is also increasing.
Therefore, in this area, we must accelerate the training of high-quality foreign-related lawyers, including cultivating a group of world-class law firms to better serve enterprises, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of individual citizens, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Reporter Shan Lu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Bian Liqun]