On May 18, Yu Zhong, China’s famous scholar of law and professor from China University of Political Science and Law, was invited to CUEB’s Lecture Room for Growth and delivered a speech themed “Having a Thorough Understanding on Xi Jingping’s Thought on the Rule of Law”. It was an important move to help students further study Xin Jinping’s thought on the rule of law and have a deeper understanding on its powerful strength in seeking truth, special charm of guiding people and grand influence on actions.

Professor Yu thoroughly explained the ideology and cultural origins of Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law in three aspects, namely, “Marxism’s rule of law theory remaining as the ideology origin”, “excellent traditional Chinese legal culture as the history origin” and “law-related achievements from abroad as the culture origin”. Yu said Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law derives from that of Marxist thought of law, which includes Utopian Socialism in its early stage with relevant thought on the rule of law, thought on the rule of law from Scientific Socialism created by Marx and Engels, and Lenin's thought on the rule of law. He also elaborated the origin of socialism and its development process, illustrating the spirit of the rule of law nourished in socialist thought with examples from the ancient moments to the modern society.

Yu implied that Xi's thought on the rule of law has a solid foundation, just like water with a source, and trees with roots. With the Sinicization of Marxism, the thought of socialist rule of law has also taken root and sprouted in China. To follow the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, we must proceed from China's actual conditions and explore a path of rule of law compatible to China's national conditions. The Communist Party of China (CPC) stays committed to combining basic tenets of Marxism with China's actual conditions. That’s how we have many excellent theories like Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory which all have rich ideas on the rule of law.

By quoting general Secretary Xi Jinping's speech during his inspection of Zhu Xi Park on Mount Wuyi in 2021, Yu vividly illustrates the importance of traditional Chinese culture. He said Chinese characteristics are endowed with excellent traditional Chinese culture, so we need to have a further understanding on our culture, including laws. As we all know, law can pacify the world and virtue can nourish people. By exemplifying stories of historical figures such as Tang Yao, Zhou Gong, Confucius, and Mencius, Yu Zhong introduced the time-honored governing strategy---“governing by law and virtue ”, and the governing philosophy with Chinese characteristics to present excellent thoughts and core concepts of Chinese legal system and the profound foundation of Chinese legal civilization.

After a comprehensive introduction to the ideological and cultural origins of Xi 's thought on the rule of law, Yu Zhong finally emphasized the significance and also gave suggestions for practice.

Xi’s thought on the rule of law is a major theoretical innovation in line with the goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in a new era, the latest achievements of sinicization of Marxism’s rule of law theory, an innovation of the rule of law of socialism with Chinese characteristics, an important part of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era, and a fundamental guidance for comprehensively governing the country by law in a new era. This lecture not only deepened students' understanding on Xi’s Thought on the rule of law in a comprehensive way, but also strengthened students' cultural and ideological identification in this respect. Therefore, we need to be firm believers, active disseminators and exemplary practitioners of Xi Jinping’s Thought on the rule of law, and let the seeds of rule of law flourish in our campus.

This lecture was co-sponsored by the Student Affairs Department of the Party Committee and the School of Law, chaired by Ji Yanyan, Deputy Minister of Student Affairs Department of the Party Committee, with more than 600 students participating online.