China expands public legal service network nationwide

BEIJING — China developed a national public legal service network by the end of 2018, Vice-Minister of Justice Xiong Xuanguo said on Jan 29.

The country set up a total of 2,917 legal service centers at the county and district level and 39,380 legal service stations at the township level and in urban communities, Xiong said at a press conference.

Through these institutions, citizens can access legal services such as legal aid, judicial intermediation, notarization and arbitration, according to Xiong.

Thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have opened provincial-level legal service websites and linked them to the national website, www.12348.cn, he said.

In a judicial reform plan from 2018 to 2020, published by the ministry at the press conference, public legal service remains a priority.

The ministry will step up efforts to further extend the network, raise public awareness and improve the legal aid system and management of lawyers, according to the plan.