China issues new five-year plan on public legal education

China has unveiled a new five-year plan to strengthen public legal education and promote the rule of law, with the aim of creating a favorable legal environment for the country's modernization drive.

The 2026-2030 plan, the ninth of its kind, is formulated by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Ministry of Justice. It calls for improving officials' ability to govern in accordance with the law and enhancing citizens' legal awareness to foster a culture that respects the law, observes rules, honors contracts and upholds fairness.

By the end of the decade, public legal education is expected to become more institutionalized, standardized and technology-enabled, the plan said.

The document places strong emphasis on legal awareness in areas related to business and innovation. It calls for broader public education on laws governing the business environment, the private economy, the digital economy and intellectual property protection.

The plan also seeks greater awareness of financial regulations to better protect consumers and investors while helping prevent and mitigate financial risks.

As China pursues higher-standard opening up, the plan highlights laws and regulations related to foreign trade, cross-border investment, international commercial dispute resolution, and cross-border travel.

Beyond the economy, the plan aims to expand legal education in areas closely tied to daily life, as well as to environmental protection, personal data security, and the prevention of telecom and online fraud