Annual Report on the Rule of Law in China (2025)

(Chinese–English) Released

On September 28, theAnnual Report on the Rule of Law in China (2025) (Chinese–English), prepared under the auspices of the China Law Society, was officially released. This marks the 18th consecutive year in which such a report has been released both in China and abroad.

The report places particular emphasis throughout on Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and provides a comprehensive and systematic account of the major achievements in advancing the rule of law under socialism with Chinese characteristics in 2025. It consists of the following sections: Preface;Xi Jinping Issues Important Instructions on Comprehensive Law-Based Governance; Comprehensive Law-Based Governance; The NPC and Its Standing Committee: Strengthening Oversight of Compliance with the Constitution and Their Legislative and Oversight Work; Law-Based Administration; Fully Deepening Judicial and Law Enforcement Reform; Judicial, Procuratorial, Public Security, and Judicial Administrative Work; Human Rights Protection under the Rule of Law; Intellectual Property Protection; Development of the Rule of Law for Ecological Civilization; Legal Education and Theoretical Research; Rule-of-Law Publicity and Culture; Foreign-Related Rule of Law; Concluding Remarks; China’s Rule of Law Development in 2025: By the Numbers; 2025 “Firsts” in China’s Rule of Law Development; and Appendix. The report comprises 17 sections and runs to approximately 75,000 Chinese characters.

To provide a more comprehensive account of the major events and important developments in the work of advancing law-based governance in all respects in 2025, the Report adds a new section, “Comprehensive Law-Based Governance,” as Part I. To better reflect the requirements of the CPC Central Committee for fully implementing its commitment to upholding the right approach to human rights, the Report includes contributions from additional central departments, thereby enriching the section “Human Rights Protection under the Rule of Law.” To better implement the Law on Publicity and Education on the Rule of Law and strengthen publicity and education on the rule of law, the Report renames the section “Rule-of-Law Culture” as “Rule-of-Law Publicity and Culture,” bringing together content on publicity concerning the rule of law.

The report notes that 2025 marked the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the year for planning and laying the groundwork for the 15th Five-Year Plan. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully convened, charting a grand blueprint for China’s development over the next five years. The CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country in rising to challenges and working hard with determination. It steadfastly implemented the new development philosophy and promoted high-quality development while coordinating both domestic and international imperatives. The main objectives and tasks for economic and social development for the year were successfully accomplished, the 14th Five-Year Plan was brought to a successful conclusion, and Chinese modernization took new solid steps forward.

The report notes that the major achievements made in China’s rule-of-law development in 2025 were fundamentally attributable to the CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core providing leadership and guidance and to the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, particularly Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. These achievements fully demonstrate the truth and practical power of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the strengths of the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

The report also notes that 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the CPC and the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army’s Long March. It is also the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Chinese legal professionals will continue to advance in an integrated manner the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. They will earnestly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions on advancing comprehensive law-based governance and the spirit of his important letter to the Ninth National Congress of the China Law Society. They will remain true to their original aspiration and mission, preserve their political integrity, further strengthen their commitment to the Four Consciousnesses, enhance the Four-Spheres of Confidence, and ensure the Two Upholds; work together to advance along the new Long March; and join forces to open up a new phase in the development of a rule-of-law China, providing strong rule-of-law safeguards for advancing the great cause of building China into a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.