The 2025 annual conference of the Association of Adjudication Theory Studies under the China Law Society was held in Beijing on Oct 29. Deng Xiuming, executive vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) and president of the association, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Wang Zhenjiang, vice-president of the China Law Society, also attended the conference and delivered remarks.

Deng highlighted that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee provides a comprehensive framework for China’s development over the next five years, representing a new mobilization to advance the modernization drive. 

He stressed the importance of aligning with the decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee, and using high-quality theoretical research to drive the high-quality development of adjudication work in the new era, so as to provide stronger judicial services and safeguards for building a modern socialist country under the rule of law.

Deng emphasized the need to strengthen political guidance and maintain a problem-oriented approach, encourage research that addresses real challenges, and improve the mechanism of translating research outcomes into practice, so as to bridge the gap between theoretical study and judicial practices. 

He also stressed the importance of building the discipline of judicial studies, consolidating foundational theory, developing original concepts and theories, innovating teaching and curriculum systems, and constructing an independent Chinese knowledge system in judicial studies. 

Furthermore, he highlighted the need to enhance organizational leadership, innovate talent development mechanisms, improve evaluation and incentive systems, and strengthen academic exchange platforms to advance the overall development of judicial adjudication theory.

Wang noted that the association has made solid progress in strengthening political guidance, improving organizational structure, refining operational mechanisms, and mobilizing resources to serve the rule of law. 

He encouraged the association to continue leveraging its strengths, use innovative theories to guide research and practice, support law-based governance, foster academic collaboration, and promote the practical application of research outcomes, so as to build itself into a high-level think tank in the field of judicial adjudication.

The conference was presided over by Mao Zhonghua, vice-president of the SPC and executive vice-president of the association. Chen Zhiyuan, director of the China Applied Jurisprudence Institute and secretary-general of the association, reported on the work of the association.