China's political and law departments will push forward judicial reforms in 2001 to ensure the smooth implementation of the country's 10th five-year plan for 2001-2005 and the ongoing reform drive.

Luo Gan, secretary of the Committee of Political Science and Law Under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remark at Friday's opening of a national working conference on political science and law.

Luo, who is also member of both the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that in 2000, the political and law departments throughout the country have contributed to maintaining social and political stability, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with General Secretary Jiang Zemin at the core.

A number of criminals involved in smuggling, tax evasion, fraud, embezzlement and bribery have been punished according to law, while efforts have been made to strengthen grassroots political and law bodies, the official said.

Luo said efforts will be increased next year to crack down on elements that undermine ethnic unity, religious extremists and terrorists, as well as the cult group of Falun Gong.

He also called for greater awareness about the serious economic crimes, saying law enforcement in this respect will be focused on striking against smuggling, fraud for export tax rebates, production and sale of counterfeit goods, infringement of intellectual property rights, and actions that undermine tax collection and disturb the financial order.

Meanwhile, efforts should be made to severely crack down on serious criminal crimes such as murder, robbery, kidnapping, crimes involving guns and explosives, burglary, and criminal gangs, he said.

Great attention should be paid to increasing training for improving the political and professional quality of the workers of political and law departments at different levels, he noted.

(Xinhua 2000/12/01)