Voices and Votes: Work reports on judicature

On the seventh day of China's annual NPC session, the country's Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate reported their progress over the past year. The heads of both judicial bodies briefed lawmakers.

President of the Supreme People's Court, Wang Shengjun, says the court strengthened efforts to handle problems brought by last year's global financial crisis. It supervised and guided local courts to provide judicial guarantee for the country's development in various fields, including agriculture, rural areas and rural residents, technological innovation, national security and stability. The court also contributed to the judicial cooperation between the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Judiciary report: China pledges greater supervision and competence in judicial system

- Highlights of work report of China's Supreme People's Court

- Highlights of work report of China's Supreme People's Procuratorate

The chief justice stressed the importance the court places on cases relating to the people's interest. It paid great attention to the handling of letters and visits. The number of visits has dropped 9 percent since 2008.

In 2010, the court will continue its efforts to improve its own practices and deepen the reform of the legal system. The chief justice announced stronger measures to discipline judges and lawyers.

Wang Shengjun said, "We will intensify punishments to anyone who violated laws and regulations, create a clean legal system and curb corruption. Judges should improve their abilities through both theocratical study and practical work."

 In a general review of its work in 2009, Procurator General Cao Jianming says the key principle for last year has been "Strengthening Legal Supervision for the Maintenance of Justice". Amid a particularly complicated economic situation, the Supreme People's Procuratorate provided further legal support for the country's economic development.  

The procurator general also illustrated the cornerstone of his organization in its future work: investigation and prevention of any abuse of power.

Cao Jianming said, "More efforts should be made in the prevention of power abuse. We'll improve our work in criminal analysis, policy study, warning and education, to push forward the building of a standardized and systematic prevention mechanism."

Cao Jianming says the procuratorate will further its efforts to promote the legal supervision on litigation activities.

Both chiefs say there's still a gap between what has been achieved and what the people fully demand. They promise to narrow the gap and guarantee the sound development of the country, and a harmonious life of the people.