CCTV9英语新闻11月：更深层次的改革司法,刑事司法系统（在线收听）

For more on the issue, we're joined by my colleague Zhangnini. Hello, Nini.

1. Tell us more about the highlights of these reforms - what were the key points of this morning’s press conference?

Zhang: China announced plans to bring deeper reforms to its judiciary and criminal justice system at the recently concluded the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee. Today, Vice Minister of Justice, Zhao Dacheng, has listed six areas in which further reforms will be carried out - these are prison administration, rehabilitation, legal counsel, judicial relief and legal aid, mediation and raising legal awareness among the general public. In terms of legal aid, Zhao Dacheng says China will boost spending to provide free legal assistance for more people. More than 28 provinces and cities have already set up standards on legal aid. The ministry wants more efforts to strengthen the system, to guarantee equal and impartial protection by law for all citizens. The ministry also vows to make prison administration and operation more open, institutionalized, and scientific.

"China will further improve legal transparency. All relevant information and documents should be available to the public, and to defendants and their families. We will also improve and adjust the methods of disclosure. And we will use information technology to facilitate openness and accessibility, breaking from past practices, when notices were simply posted on to walls." Zhao Dacheng, vice minister of Justice, said.

Efforts are also underway to establish a system of legal counsel, and to increase the role of lawyers in courts.

"China will continue to improve the professionalism and expertise of lawyers, and strengthen mechanisms to monitor the actions of lawyers. We will also strengthen lawyers’ professional ethics, and to give full play to the lawyers’ key role of serving their clients." Zhao Dacheng, vice minister of Justice, said.

The vice minister also emphasized the importance of community rehabilitation, instead of imprisonment for people who commit minor crimes. The ministry is to continue to improve the system, and make it easier for criminals to return to society.

2. The "Third Plenum" proposed the goal of establishing an efficient, fair and authoritative judicial system in China. What more can you tell us?

Zhang: The "Third Plenum" lists six principles to enhance the judicial system in China. The party resolution calls for more efforts to protect people’s rights and ensure justice and fairness in every trial. The goal is also set to ensure independence and fairness in courts and prosecuting bodies, and reduce the power of provincial governments that oversee the functioning of local courts. One important initiative from the "Third Plenum" is to end the interference of the Commission of Politics and Law. Analysts believe this is an important step to enhance credibility and transparency of the judiciary. China’s judiciary has often been criticized for being susceptible to outside interference--power, money and bureaucratic influence. In some criminal cases, outcomes are decided before the trial begins..... some judges are government-appointed, and court proceedings are largely opaque. The system therefore cannot be seen as an independent and impartial arbitrator of the rule of law. A series of initiatives were announced at the third plenum to reform the mechanism. This will pave the way for safeguarding the judicial system from perversion by local political and business connections and protectionism. Meanwhile, China’s Supreme People’s Court has also undertaken a number of initiatives in an attempt to ensure transparent proceedings, improve authority of trial judges, and encourage the involvement of litigants and their lawyers.