Led by President Xi Jinping, key meeting reviews progress, tasks

China will carry reforms through to the end with firm determination under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, according to a statement of a key meeting presided over by President Xi Jinping on Aug 29.

Reforms initiated by the CPC Central Committee five years ago have yielded fruitful outcomes, and unfinished tasks will continue to be implemented after the 19th National Congress of the CPC, the statement said. The congress will be held later this year.

The statement was released after the 38th meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform. The central leading group, established in December 2013, is headed by Xi.

The flag of reform should be upheld and the experience of reform since the 18th National Congress of the CPC five years ago should be summarized, the statement said.

During the meeting, senior leaders reviewed documents and reports in such areas as environmental protection, rural management, judicial reform and poverty reduction.

Regarding the environment, the statement called the nationwide pilot project of compensation for ecological damage an important measure. More steps should be taken to improve its appraisal technology and streamline the flow of funds to push forward the building of an ecological civilization, it said.

Some provinces carried out the pilot project of compensation for ecological damage between 2015 and 2017, and this will be launched nationwide in 2018, according to a guideline document released by the State Council, China's Cabinet, in late 2015.

The country's overall plan on land use should be implemented accurately at county and city levels to lay the basis for the protection and exploitation of the nation's land, the statement said.

The overall plan refers to designating the functions of different areas, such as for mineral resources or industrial use.

Judicial reform was highlighted at the meeting, and a document on the professionalization of judges and prosecutors was reviewed and passed.

According to the document, judicial authorities will pay more attention to building the professional ethics of the judicial staff.

During the meeting, the pilot judicial reform, launched in Shanghai in July 2014, was also reviewed. With the goal of building a law-based country, government and society, the exercise of judicial power must be streamlined, the statement said.

Rural issues, including the use of agriculture-related funds, the supervision of village officials, the protection of farmers' rights and poverty reduction were also discussed.

Last year, the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform reviewed and approved 46 key documents and rolled out 419 reform plans in different areas.

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(China Daily European Weekly 09/01/2017 page14)