Qianhai Rule of Law Index System: the First Rule of Law Assessment Index System for Free Trade Zone Launched

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On the morning of September 27, 2017, the CASS Center for the Study of National Indices of the Rule of Law launched Qianhai Rule of Law Index System: the first rule of law assessment index system for free trade zone in China. Currently Qianhai Free Trade Zone is the only one among the eleven free trade zones in China approved by the Chinese government to become a demonstration zone for the construction of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. The rule of law is the prominent characteristic distinguishing Qianhai Free Trade Zone from other experimental free trade zones in China, as well as the core competitive advantage and main driving force behind the Zone. To objectively assess the progresses and achievements made by Qianhai Free Trade Zone in the construction of the rule of law, complete the mission of building a demonstration zone for the construction of the rule of law, and create a stable, fair, transparent and predictable business environment in Qianhai, the Outline of the Program for the Establishment of a Demonstration Zone for the Construction of Socialist Rule of Law in Qianhai puts forward the task of establishing “Qianhai Indices of the Rule of Law Environment”. For this purpose, Bureau of Administration of Qianhai Free Trade Zone decided to introduce a third-party assessment mechanism and to entrust the Project Team of CASS Center for the Study of National Indices of the Rule of Law and the Innovation Project on Indices of the Rule of Law of CASS Law Institute to carry out the assessment work. The Project Team, after repeated demonstration, on-site investigation, and soliciting opinions from various parties, developed a system of indices for the assessment of the construction of the rule of law in Qianhai Free Trade Zone in accordance with the principles of reflecting the overall situation of the construction of the rule of law in Qianhai Free Trade Zone and highlighting the characteristics of the Free Trade Zone. The system consists of five first-level indices, 19 second-level indices, 60 third-level indices, and over 400 fourth-level indices. It is currently the main indicator of the comprehensive reflection of the rule of law environment in Qianhai Free Trade Zone. The Project Team will use this index system to carry out all-round and multi-level assessment of the construction of the rule of law in Qianhai Free Trade Zone from the perspectives of the construction of a law-based government, the construction of the judicial system, the construction of a law-based society, supervision and safeguarding.