Fourth party plenum set for October 20-23
Top party meeting likely to use corruption inquiry centred around Zhou Yongkang as proof that country is moving towards rule of law
The Communist Party yesterday said its fourth plenum will be held from October 20-23 and would focus on improving the administration of law.
Emphasising the rule of law was crucial for building a prosperous society and enhancing the ability of the party to govern, said a Politburo statement issued after its meeting yesterday.
Reforms to strengthen the rule of law are expected to be discussed and adopted during the four-day closed-door meeting, state television reported. Measures will be taken to improve the legal system and the mechanism for overseeing it.
The South China Morning Post reported in May the party leadership wanted the fourth plenum of the Central Committee to focus on the rule of law amid the corruption probe into former national security tsar Zhou Yongkang .
Sources said that President Xi Jinping might use the meeting to pledge to safeguard the constitution and fight graft, even at the highest levels of the government.
The Politburo statement said rule of law should be promoted under the leadership of the party. The authority of the constitution and the rights of the people should be protected, while justice and national security should be safeguarded, it added.