On May 10, the 2nd High-End Social and Cultural Lecture, jointly sponsored by Shanghai Academy and the Humanities & Social Sciences Office of Shanghai University and undertaken by Shanghai University Law School, was grandly held at Xuehai Hall, New Lehu Building, on the main campus of Shanghai University. Li Lin, member of the Academic Division of CASS, Director of the Institute of Law of CASS and Vice Chairman of China Law Society, gave a speech entitled the Important and Difficult Issues Concerning Comprehensively Advancing the Rule of Law. Wen Xueguo, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, chaired the meeting.

Li Lin elaborated the ten major significances of advancing the rule of law in an all-round way from perspectives like the strategic position, strategic significance, nature and characteristics, basic goals, main tasks, important and difficult parts, top-level design and path dependence of the rule of law, as well as four major transformations and ten combinations. Li Lin considers that China presently faces a huge shift in the rule of law, with the main task shifting from establishing the legal system to building the system of the rule of law, Therefore, the legal occupational role related to the implementation, observance, guarantee, and monitoring of constitutional laws will be more important in the future. Meanwhile, the historic mission of the rule of law marks the transformation of China from a country of laws to a country under the rule of law, in which the rule of law not only makes the country strong but also serves as one of the indicators of how strong it is. At present, the key to the rule of law is to shift from the focus on legislation to the implementation of constitutional laws, and to shift from “economic GDP” to “rule of law GDP”.

Mentioning the path dependence of the comprehensive rule of law, Li Lin highlighted “four insistences”. He said, first, we shall insist on advancing the rule of law, governing by law and administration by law together. Second, we shall insist on constructing the country, the government and the society under the rule of law together. Third, we shall insist on scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, fair administration of justice, and observance of law by all. Fourth, we shall insist on leading legislation, guaranteeing law enforcement, supporting the administration of justice, and taking the lead in observing the law in a comprehensive manner.

Proceeding from advancing the administration of the country according to the Constitution and comprehensively implementing the Constitution, Li Lin highlighted the importance of the Constitution in comprehensively advancing the rule of law, and analyzed the feasibility and necessity of advancing the administration by law and the construction of a government under the rule of law from different perspectives. Meanwhile, in combination with the dilemma facing the judicial reform amid the new situations, he explained the profound significance of improving scientific and democratic legislation and the legal system, and proposed the goals of deepening the judicial reform and strengthening judicial construction in the judicial system, judicial team, and judicial environment.

The academic report is the 2nd high-end social and cultural lecture held by Shanghai Academy, and is a major move that Shanghai Academy has taken, to build itself into a high-end national think tank and create a high-end academic platform for social and cultural science.

Attendees included Zhu Cheng, Director of the Cooperation Division of Shanghai Academy, Wu Zhonggang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai University Law School, Zhang Jingui, Deputy Director of the Research Division of the Institute of Law of CASS, and Li Fengzhang, Vice President of Shanghai University Law School. Over 200 teachers and students from both Shanghai University and other colleges heard the report.

(Article and photo by Xiang Jinmei,

Shanghai University Law School)