Senior legislator stresses Constitution-based governance

A senior legislator on Sunday reiterated that the Communist Party of China (CPC) sticks to Constitution-based governance.

Shen Chunyao, secretary of the Bill Group of Secretariat of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, and Zheng Shuna, deputy secretary of the Bill Group of Secretariat of the first session of the 13th NPC and vice chairperson of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, take questions at a press conference on an amendment to the country's Constitution in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua/Shen Hong]

The Party has repeatedly stressed that it must act in accordance with the Constitution and laws, Shen Chunyao, chairman of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said at a press conference.

A constitutional amendment was adopted by the first session of the 13th NPC on Sunday.

Shen cited Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, as saying that leading officials should uphold rule of law, oppose rule of man, hold in awe of the Constitution, and exercise their duty within the boundaries of the Constitution and laws, when joining a panel discussion with NPC deputies from Chongqing.

Explaining a revision that requires all state functionaries to take oath of allegiance to the Constitution when assuming office, Shen said it was introduced to educate and inspire state functionaries on their constitutional responsibilities.

An oath-taking ceremony will be arranged at the ongoing NPC session for the newly elected or appointed leaders and officials, he said.

In addition, to improve the implementation of the Constitution, the name of the NPC Law Committee has been changed into NPC Constitution and Law Committee, according to Shen.