宪法宣誓 (xiànfǎ xuānshì): Taking an oath of allegiance to the Constitution

Xi Jinping, who was elected Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China on Saturday, took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This is the first time that a Chinese president has taken such an oath.

Since January 2016, all State functionaries have had to make a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution on taking office.

China's first Constitution was enacted in 1954. And the current Constitution was adopted in 1982, and amended in 1988, 1993, 1999, 2004 and 2018.

The oath of allegiance to the Constitution is of great significance to the country's basic principle of rule of law, because achieving law-based governance should stick to Constitution-based governance first. State leaders giving their oath of allegiance to the Constitution on entering office set a good example for the rest of country, as it will inspire the public to respect and uphold the Constitution.