The meeting, held from Monday 20^th to Thursday 23^rd of October, was presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the country’s top leadership body. A total of 363 members and alternate members of the committee attended the meeting.

It adopted a decision from the CPC Central Committee on "major issues concerning comprehensively advancing the rule of law". Particularly, government officials will be given demerit penalties and held accountable if they are found to have interfered in lawsuits.

According to a statement issued on the 23^rd of October, the top court will initiate a pilot project to set up cross-administrative regional courts and procuratorates aimed at preventing local government officials from interfering in judicial cases.

Government leaders should set an example in abiding by laws and regulations, but many officials have violated laws through corruption and abuse of power, Ying Songnian, professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said.

The main aim of the Party’s drive to advance the rule of law is to "form a system serving the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics" and build a country with socialist rule of law.

Ma Huaide, vice president of China University of Political Science and Law, said that under the current appraisal system many government officials make economic growth the top priority and neglect the implementation of the rule of law.

Research carried out by Ma last year found that only 36 of 53 cities sampled, including Beijing and Shanghai, reached the pass mark in an assessment of "governance by law". None of the city authorities scored higher than 80 out of 100 points.