As China and the United States press ahead with preparations for next month's visit to Beijing by President Bill Clinton, the need to strengthen the rule of law on the mainland has emerged as the latest addition to a growing list of areas in which the two sides are beginning to co-operate constructively.
Secretary for State Madeleine Albright came away from her talks in Beijing this week full of praise for the seriousness with which the Chinese leadership is tackling the issue of legal reform. The applause with which she was greeted by mainland judges on a visit to their new training school clearly made a deep impression. Some US officials have even begun to suggest that helping to accelerate this process might be the most effective way of improving individual liberties in China.
Such outside enthusiasm for promoting the rule of law is not new. Britain has had a programme for training Chinese lawyers for several years. Hong Kong is also playing its part in the reform process.
Nor is there any doubt that China's legal system is starting to improve - albeit slowly. Such changes are mainly economy-driven. Many radical reforms, such as privatisation of state-owned enterprises, do not yet come under proper legal regulation. This impetus to strengthening the rule of law faces major tests such as the enforcement of breach of copyright actions and effective protection of foreign joint venture partners. But leaders in Beijing recognise that putting such activities on a sounder legal footing can attract overseas investors.
Progress in reform of the criminal law system has been more limited. Not that there has been no progress: ordinary people are more willing to take their grievances to court. Where no powerful vested interests are involved, there is a reasonable chance of such disputes being fairly resolved.
But the mainland legal system still falls short of impartially judging cases involving the Government or the Communist Party. That is the goal towards which China must now work. Beijing appears to have no qualms about accepting foreign assistance in reforming its legal system; Ms Albright is right to place such a priority on offering to provide this.
