The Central Conference on Work Relating to Political and Legal Affair was held in Beijing from Jan 18 to 19. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Chen emphasized that work on the political and legal front should uphold the Party’s absolute leadership, adhere to a people-centered approach, and coordinate development with national security. He called for fostering and practising a correct view of performance evaluation and advancing the development of a higher-level safe China and law-based governance in the country, providing support for a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

While fully acknowledging achievements in work on political and legal affairs in 2025, Chen underscored key priorities for 2026. He called for enhancing political awareness by unifying thinking, will and action under the Party’s guiding theories, and safeguarding public security through strict implementation of national security and social stability responsibilities, with coordinated prevention and enforcement measures. 

He stressed the need to advance the rule of law by developing an independent Chinese legal knowledge system and promoting scientific legislation, strict enforcement, fair administration of justice, and greater public legal awareness. The development of grassroots-level organizations need to be strengthened and full-chain mechanisms should be established to identify and resolve conflicts and disputes, Chen said, adding that the development of digital platforms for administration of political and legal affairs should be accelerated and more efforts are needed to foster a loyal, clean, and responsible workforce on the political and legal front in the new era.

Wang Xiaohong, minister of public security, presided over the conference and delivered the concluding remarks. Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People’s Court, and Ying Yong, procurator general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, also attended the meeting.