The Fundamental Purpose of Advancing Foreign-Related Rule of Law Work and Its Path of Realization

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has coordinated the strategic overall plan for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century, incorporated law-based governance in all respects into the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy for coordinated advancement, put forward that the rule of law is an important component of national core competitiveness, demanded “adhering to coordinated advancement of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law,” emphasized “strengthening legislation in foreign-related fields,” and proposed “accelerating the formation of a complete system of foreign-related laws and regulations, and enhancing the effectiveness of foreign-related law enforcement and judicial work.” These important expositions and deployments provide important guidance for advancing foreign-related rule of law work, safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，将全面依法治国纳入“四个全面”战略布局统筹推进，提出法治是国家核心竞争力的重要内容，要求“坚持统筹推进国内法治和涉外法治”，强调“加强涉外领域立法”，提出“要加快形成系统完备的涉外法律法规体系，提升涉外执法司法效能”。这些重要论述和部署，为推进涉外法治工作，维护我国主权安全和发展利益、推动构建人类命运共同体提供了重要遵循。

The Development Trajectory of Foreign-Related Rule of Law Work in the New Era

新时代涉外法治工作的发展脉络

Foreign-related rule of law is a concept formed on the basis of China’s rule-of-law practice and exploration in the New Era, serving the development goals of China in the New Era. It embodies China’s original contributions in the field of the rule of law and is an iconic concept of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Foreign-related rule of law work is a systematic project that has been continuously advanced, improved, and developed under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and in the great practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era.

涉外法治是基于新时代中国法治实践和探索、服务于新时代中国发展目标而形成的概念，体现了中国在法治领域的原创性贡献，是习近平法治思想的一个标识性概念。涉外法治工作是在习近平法治思想引领下，在新时代中国特色社会主义建设伟大实践中不断推进、完善和发展的一项系统工程。

In October 2014, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC proposed “strengthening foreign-related legal work,” marking the first time requirements were put forward for foreign-related rule of law work. In February 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping made clear work deployments for foreign-related rule of law work at the second meeting of the Central Committee for Comprehensively Advancing Law-Based Governance. In October 2019, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC incorporated strengthening foreign-related rule of law work into the institutional arrangements for advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. In October 2020, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC explicitly proposed for the first time strengthening the construction of the foreign-related rule of law system. In November 2020, the Central Conference on Work Related to Comprehensively Advancing Law-Based Governance established Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as the fundamental guidance and action guide for comprehensively advancing law-based governance, and “adhering to coordinated advancement of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law” was clearly defined as one of the core tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. In October 2022, the report of the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized strengthening legislation in key areas, emerging areas, and foreign-related areas, and coordinating the advancement of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law. In November 2023, when presiding over the tenth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping systematically elucidated a series of major theoretical and practical issues, such as why and how to strengthen the construction of foreign-related rule of law, providing fundamental guidance and an action guide for accelerating the construction of China’s foreign-related rule of law system and capacity on the new journey. In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC deployed work related to foreign-related rule of law from two dimensions: “strengthening the construction of foreign-related rule of law” and “improving foreign-related national security mechanisms.” In October 2025, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC deliberated and approved the “Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development,” which planned foreign-related rule of law work for the next five years in sections such as “improving the national security system” and “advancing the construction of socialist democratic rule of law,” indicating that our Party is planning and advancing foreign-related rule of law within the overall layout of comprehensively building a great modern socialist country. In November 2025, the Central Conference on Work Related to Comprehensively Advancing Law-Based Governance further emphasized “strengthening the construction of the foreign-related rule of law system and capacity.”

2014年10月，党的十八届四中全会提出要“加强涉外法律工作”，首次对涉外法治工作提出要求。2019年2月，习近平总书记在中央全面依法治国委员会第二次会议上对涉外法治工作做出明确工作部署。2019年10月，党的十九届四中全会将加强涉外法治工作纳入推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的制度性安排。2020年10月，党的十九届五中全会首次明确提出加强涉外法治体系建设。2020年11月，中央全面依法治国工作会议将习近平法治思想确立为全面依法治国的根本遵循和行动指南，“坚持统筹推进国内法治和涉外法治”被明确为习近平法治思想的核心要义之一。2022年10月，党的二十大报告强调，加强重点领域、新兴领域、涉外领域立法，统筹推进国内法治和涉外法治。2023年11月，习近平总书记在主持二十届中共中央政治局第十次集体学习时系统阐明为什么要加强涉外法治建设、如何加强涉外法治建设等一系列重大理论和实践问题，为新征程上加快推进我国涉外法治体系和能力建设提供了根本遵循和行动指南。2024年7月，党的二十届三中全会从“加强涉外法治建设”和“完善涉外国家安全机制”两个维度对涉外法治相关工作进行部署。2025年10月，党的二十届四中全会审议通过的《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划的建议》在“健全国家安全体系”和“推进社会主义民主法治建设”等段落中规划未来5年涉外法治相关工作，表明我们党将涉外法治放在全面建成社会主义现代化强国的整体布局中运筹和推进。2025年11月，中央全面依法治国工作会议进一步强调“加强涉外法治体系和能力建设”。

From the above review, it can be seen that the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has achieved an increasingly profound systematic understanding of foreign-related rule of law, an increasingly scientific principled explanation, and an increasingly clear strategic layout. The proposal of the concept of foreign-related rule of law and the trajectory of advancing foreign-related rule of law work indicate that the Communist Party of China, based on China’s rule-of-law practice in the New Era and the transformation of the forms of human rule-of-law civilization, continuously refines original new theories and summarizes new practices with regularity, providing guidance and laying a solid foundation for strengthening confidence in the rule of law and unswervingly following the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

通过以上梳理可以看出，以习近平同志为核心的党中央对涉外法治的体系性理解越来越深刻、原理性阐释越来越科学、战略性布局越来越明确。涉外法治概念的提出以及涉外法治工作的推进脉络表明，中国共产党立足于新时代中国法治实践和人类法治文明形态变革，不断提炼有原创性的新理论、概括有规律性的新实践，为坚定法治自信、坚定不移走中国特色社会主义法治道路提供了引领、夯实了基础。

The Fundamental Purpose of Foreign-Related Rule of Law Work and Its Implications

涉外法治工作的根本目的及其意涵

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The fundamental purpose of advancing foreign-related rule of law work is to better safeguard the interests of the country and the people through the rule of law, promote the progress of international rule of law, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.” This important assertion clarifies the value orientation and scientific connotation of foreign-related rule of law.

习近平总书记指出：“推进涉外法治工作，根本目的是用法治方式更好维护国家和人民利益，促进国际法治进步，推动构建人类命运共同体。”这一重要论断，明确了涉外法治的价值取向和科学内涵。

On the one hand, it elucidates the mission and tasks of foreign-related rule of law. As China’s comprehensive national strength continuously increases and its level of opening up significantly improves, the country’s participation in international affairs deepens, and the world’s influence on China also deepens. Currently, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation; relations among major powers affect the international situation, the evolution of the international situation profoundly impacts domestic development, and China’s development is in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors increase. This temporal and spatial context means that China’s domestic rule of law and international rule of law are no longer clearly demarcated and isolated from each other, but rather influence and permeate each other: as China goes global, it must be adept at using the rule of law; through its own rule-of-law practice, China can promote changes in international rule of law; international rule of law promotes China’s domestic rule of law, especially China’s proactive alignment with high-standard international economic and trade rules, achieving compatibility and connectivity of rules, regulations, management, and standards, which is an important measure for improving the systems and mechanisms for high-level opening up. Therefore, in the New Era, China must not only comprehensively advance the rule of law in all aspects of national work, realize the modernization of national governance, and create a stable and harmonious domestic environment for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, but also coordinate both domestic and international situations, participate in global governance and build international rule of law through the construction of foreign-related rule of law, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and create peaceful and favorable external development conditions for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Thus, the function of foreign-related rule of law is clearly revealed: responding to the profound changes in the relationship between China and the world, effectively integrating China’s national governance with global governance; it is not only an important guarantee for China to comprehensively advance law-based governance and realize the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, but also an inevitable requirement for China, as a responsible major country, to participate in the construction of international rule of law, promote the democratization and rule of law in international relations, address the global governance deficit, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

一方面，阐明了涉外法治的使命任务。随着综合国力不断提升和对外开放水平显著提高，我国对国际事务的参与不断加深，世界对我国的影响也不断加深。当前，世界进入新的动荡变革期，大国关系牵动国际形势，国际形势演变深刻影响国内发展，我国发展处于战略机遇和风险挑战并存、不确定难预料因素增多的时期。这种时空背景使得中国国内法治和国际法治不再泾渭分明、彼此隔绝，而是相互影响、相互渗透：中国走向世界，必须善于运用法治，中国经由自身的法治实践可以推进国际法治变革；国际法治促进中国国内法治，特别是中国主动对接国际高标准经贸规则，实现规则、规制、管理、标准相通相容，是完善高水平对外开放体制机制的重要举措。因此，新时代中国既要全面推进国家各方面工作法治化，实现国家治理现代化，为中华民族伟大复兴创造稳定和谐的国内环境，也要统筹国内国际两个大局，通过涉外法治建设参与全球治理、建设国际法治，推动构建人类命运共同体，为中华民族伟大复兴创造和平有利的外部发展条件。由此，涉外法治的功能得以清晰展现：因应中国与世界关系发生的深刻变化，有效融通中国国家治理与全球治理，既是中国全面推进依法治国、实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的重要保障，也是中国作为负责任大国参与国际法治建设、推动国际关系民主化和法治化，破解全球治理赤字和推动构建人类命运共同体的必然要求。

On the other hand, the fundamental purpose of advancing foreign-related rule of law work determines that foreign-related rule of law is not a closed, one-dimensional concept, but an open, two-dimensional concept. Specifically, foreign-related rule of law includes two dimensions and two aspects: domestic and international. The domestic dimension and domestic aspect refer to the parts of China’s domestic rule of law system that involve foreign and international factors, including all aspects of foreign-related legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, compliance, legal services, and talent cultivation in the New Era, and are constituent elements of the socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics. The international dimension and international aspect refer to the part where China participates in the construction of international rule of law through international legislation, law enforcement and judicial cooperation, international legal service collaboration, and international legal talent cultivation, and are the main means by which China advances international rule of law and improves global governance through the rule of law.

另一方面，推进涉外法治工作的根本目的决定了涉外法治不是一个封闭型的单向度概念，而是一个开放型的双向度概念。具体而言，涉外法治包括国内和国际两个维度、两个面向：国内维度和国内面向是指中国国内法治体系中涉及外国与国际因素的部分，包括新时代中国涉外立法、执法、司法、守法、法律服务和人才培养等方方面面，是中国特色社会主义法治体系的组成要素；国际维度和国际面向是指中国通过国际立法、执法司法合作、国际法律服务协作、国际法律人才培养等途径参与国际法治建设的部分，是中国经由法治方式推进国际法治、完善全球治理的主要手段。

The Practical Path for Strengthening the Construction of the Foreign-Related Rule of Law System and Capacity

加强涉外法治体系和能力建设的实践路径

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Foreign-related rule of law work is a systematic project with broad coverage and strong linkages; it is necessary to coordinate domestic and international aspects, coordinate development and security, adhere to forward-looking thinking, overall planning, strategic layout, and holistic advancement, strengthen top-level design, and integrally advance foreign-related legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, compliance, and legal services, forming a large-scale coordinated pattern for foreign-related rule of law work.” This important exposition points out the path and method for advancing foreign-related rule of law work.

习近平总书记指出，“涉外法治工作是一项涉及面广、联动性强的系统工程，必须统筹国内和国际，统筹发展和安全，坚持前瞻性思考、全局性谋划、战略性布局、整体性推进，加强顶层设计，一体推进涉外立法、执法、司法、守法和法律服务，形成涉外法治工作大协同格局”。这一重要论述，为推进涉外法治工作指明了路径与方法。

First, strengthen the overall leadership of the Party and accelerate the strategic layout of foreign-related rule of law work. The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the fundamental guarantee for our country to overcome

其一，加强党的全面领导，加快涉外法治工作战略布局。中国共产党的领导是我国战胜各种外部风险和挑战的根本保证，也是我国加快涉外法治体系和能力建设的最大制度优势。面对日益复杂严峻的外部环境，要实现推进涉外法治工作的根本目的，必须坚持和加强党的全面领导，秉持系统思维和整体观念，从战略上和全局上进行系统谋划和一体推进，形成立法、执法、司法、守法和法律服务、法治人才培养等各环节相互促进和相互衔接的涉外法治工作大协同格局。

Second, adhere to legislation taking the lead, simultaneously enacting, revising, abolishing, and interpreting laws, and as soon as possible establish a system of foreign-related laws and regulations that provides a basis for rights protection, is orderly in opening up, and is equipped for both offense and defense. The foreign-related legal system is an important component of the national legal system, the foundation of foreign-related rule of law, and plays a significant role in consolidating foundations, stabilizing expectations, and benefiting the long term. Legislative bodies should prioritize urgent needs, plan with a long-term perspective, and accelerate the establishment of a complete and well-regulated system of foreign-related laws and regulations through focused, step-by-step enactment of new laws, revision and interpretation of laws, and abolition of outdated legal provisions, thereby providing legal safeguards for realizing the fundamental purpose of advancing foreign-related rule-of-law work.

其二，坚持立法先行，立改废释并举，尽快建成维权有据、开放有序、攻防兼备的涉外法律法规体系。涉外法律制度是国家法制的重要组成部分，是涉外法治的基础，发挥着固根本、稳预期、利长远的重要作用。立法机关应坚持急用先行，着眼长远谋划，通过有重点、分步骤地制定新法和修法、释法以及废除不合时宜的法律规定，加快建立系统完备、规则完善的涉外法律法规体系，为实现推进涉外法治工作的根本目的提供法制保障。

Third, enhance the effectiveness of foreign-related law enforcement and judicial work, and build a coordinated and efficient system for implementing foreign-related rule of law. Focus on improving foreign-related law enforcement capacity, enhancing the transparency and stability of China’s foreign-related laws and regulations in enforcement practice, and creating a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized first-class business environment. In the process of publishing cases of counter-sanctions, counter-intervention, and countering “long-arm jurisdiction,” administrative law enforcement organs should further strengthen legal interpretation and reasoning, promote “case-based legal interpretation,” and effectively safeguard national rights and interests as well as China’s national image of abiding by international rule of law. Compared with administrative law enforcement organs, judicial organs are more neutral and professional in resolving cross-border disputes, making them more easily accepted by the international community. Further strengthen the modernization of the foreign-related trial system and trial capacity, enhance the international credibility, attractiveness, and reputation of China’s judiciary through reform and institutional innovation, and continuously strengthen the role of people’s courts in the foreign-related rule-of-law system.

其三，提升涉外执法司法效能，建设协同高效的涉外法治实施体系。注重提升涉外执法能力建设，在执法实践中提高我国涉外法律法规的透明性、稳定性，营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境。行政执法机关在公布反制裁、反干预、反“长臂管辖”案件的过程中要进一步加强释法说理，推进“以案释法”，有力维护国家权益和中国遵守国际法治的国家形象。与行政执法机关相比，司法机关解决跨国纠纷更具中立性与专业性，更容易得到国际社会的接受。应进一步加强涉外审判体系和审判能力现代化建设，通过改革和制度创新，提升我国司法的国际公信力、吸引力与美誉度，不断加强人民法院在涉外法治体系中的作用。

Fourth, raise the level of foreign-related legal services, and more effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the state, enterprises, and citizens. Through unremitting efforts, China’s foreign-related legal services industry has achieved considerable development, but it still does not match the rapidly growing demand. Wherever national interests extend, foreign-related legal services should follow. Through institutional innovation, accelerate the cultivation of a number of internationally first-class law firms and arbitration institutions, improve policy support measures, and support Chinese law firms and arbitration institutions in “going global.” Take the promulgation and implementation of the Commercial Mediation Regulations as an opportunity to accelerate the establishment of several commercial mediation organizations with international influence. Vigorously promote the “International Mediation Institute,” the first intergovernmental international organization specializing in mediation initiated by China, to play a greater role, advance the construction of a “one-stop” diversified platform for resolving international commercial disputes that organically connects litigation, mediation, and arbitration, and enhance China’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a preferred venue for international commercial dispute resolution and Chinese law as the governing law for international commercial disputes.

其四，提高涉外法律服务水平，更加有力维护国家、企业和公民的合法权益。经过不懈努力，我国涉外法律服务业取得了长足发展，但同迅速增长的需求尚不匹配。国家利益拓展到哪里，涉外法律服务就应该跟进到哪里。应通过制度创新，加快培育一批国际一流的律师事务所、仲裁机构，完善政策保障措施，支持中国律师事务所和仲裁机构“走出去”。以商事调解条例颁布实施为契机，加快建设若干具有国际影响力的商事调解组织。着力推动我国发起设立的世界上首个专司调解的政府间国际组织“国际调解院”发挥更大作用，推进诉讼与调解、仲裁有机衔接的“一站式”国际商事纠纷多元化解决平台建设，提高中国作为国际商事纠纷解决优选地、中国法作为国际商事纠纷准据法的竞争力和吸引力。

Fifth, actively participate in and strive to lead the formulation of international rules, promote the formation of a fair, reasonable, and transparent international rule system, and enhance China’s voice and influence in the transformation of the global governance system. In the New Era, China is not a passive recipient or simple en

其五，主动参与并努力引领国际规则制定，推动形成公正合理透明的国际规则体系，提升我国在全球治理体系变革中的话语权和影响力。新时代中国不是国际法治的被动接受者和简单执行者，推动涉外法治的根本目的表明我国有能力、有意愿、有办法通过自身探索和法治实践推动和促进国际法治变革，从而对国际法治的均衡、健康和公正发展作出中国贡献。因此，要坚定法治自信，加强对国际规则制定、解释和适用的“全链条”参与，更加重视发挥中国法治理论和实践对国际法发展演变的影响力，将中国法治理念和经验更好融入国际规则，为促进国际法治进步贡献中国力量。

At present, the strategic whole of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world are interacting with and agitating each other. In this critical historical period, strengthening the construction of foreign-related rule of law is both a long-term necessity for comprehensively advancing the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, and an urgent task for promoting high-level reform and opening up and responding to external risks and challenges. On the new journey, we must earnestly study and comprehend General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on foreign-related rule of law work, comprehensively implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the construction of foreign-related rule of law, accelerate the construction of our country’s foreign-related rule of law system and capacity with a more proactive historical responsibility and creative spirit, better safeguard the rights and interests of the country and the people through the rule of law, promote the progress of international rule of law, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

当前，中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局相互激荡。在此关键历史时期，加强涉外法治建设既是以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的长远所需，也是推进高水平对外开放、应对外部风险挑战的当务之急。新征程上，我们要认真学习领会习近平总书记关于涉外法治工作的重要论述，全面贯彻落实党中央关于加强涉外法治建设的决策部署，以更加积极的历史担当和创造精神，加快推进我国涉外法治体系和能力建设，用法治方式更好维护国家和人民权益，促进国际法治进步，推动构建人类命运共同体。

(Author: Huo Zhengxin, Professor at the School of International Law, China University of Political Science and Law)

（作者：霍政欣，系中国政法大学国际法学院教授）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧