context: Strengthening foreign-related legislation is essential for Beijing's global ambitions. In the summer of 2023, the PRC rolled out the Foreign Relations Law, which codifies its foreign policy practice. Chinese experts describe this law as 'a major achievement of foreign-related legislation.'
Xi Jinping 习近平 chaired a Politburo group study session on foreign-related legislation development on 27 November 2023. During the meeting, Xi stressed that strengthening foreign-related rule of law is
- a long-term requirement for building the PRC into a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernisation
- an urgent task for advancing high-level opening up and dealing with external risks and challenges
He stressed the need to
- develop a foreign-related legal system that can meet the needs of high-quality development and high-standard opening-up
- create favorable legal and external conditions for advancing Chinese modernisation
Having a foreign-related legal framework is an important part of China's legal system, Xi said, emphasising that the fundamental purpose of advancing law-based governance in foreign-related affairs is to
- safeguard the interests of the country and the people through legal means
- facilitate progress in international rule of law
- advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity
He pointed out that the rule of law is the best environment for doing business, emphasising the need to
- build an open and transparent foreign-related legal system
- strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights
- ensure the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-funded enterprises
- foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalised business environment
Xi added that relevant laws and regulations should be improved to facilitate the life of foreign residents in China.