ABSTRACT
The process of the reform and opening up in China since 1979 has brought about the dissolution of the planned economy and the construction of the market economy. As a result, a corresponding transformation has been taking place in almost every aspects of the society, including the structure of society, people’s patterns of behavior, and political and legal realms. Since 1979, China has initiated a comprehensive reform of its legal system in order to meet the demand of the market economy and restore the legal system that was almost thoroughly demolished during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s (Dingjian, 1999). With almost 40 years’ effort, China has enacted a large volume of legislation, re-established judicial agencies such as the hierarchy of courts, arbitration tribunals, the procuracy, etc, and revived the system of legal education.
