Xi vows to implement rule of law

CHINA: China's newly appointed leader Xi Jinping pledged Tuesday to implement rule of law. In a speech at the Great Hall of the People that marked the 30th anniversary of China's 1982 constitution, Xi spoke of curbing the powers of the ruling party. His comments appeared to be the strongest yet by a Chinese leader on the need for legal restraints on the party and come amid a series of graft scandals and reports of the unbridled wealth of China's top communist families.

“We must firmly establish throughout society the authority of the constitution and the law and allow the overwhelming masses to fully believe in the law,” Xi said in comments carried by China Central Television.

“To fully implement the constitution needs to be the sole task and the basic work in building a socialist nation ruled by law.”

Xi was last month named as the head of the ruling Communist Party and is slated to take over the state presidency from current President Hu Jintao in March as part of China's once-a-decade leadership transition.

This year's transition was badly rocked by the case of disgraced politician Bo Xilai, whose wife was convicted in August of murdering a British businessman, in a scandal that has revealed rampant graft and lawlessness at the pinnacle of political power.

AFP