The Sixth National Lawyers' Congress opened on June 14, with the aim of implementing the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee judicial reform requirements and awarding outstanding lawyers.

In a keynote speech delivered at the opening session, State Councilor Zhou Yongkang said that the number of lawyers in China has increased dramatically over the past 20 years and the quality of law professionals has remarkably improved.

Nowadays, Zhou said, lawyers offer services in all fields and have made significant achievements. Lawyers are playing an increasingly important role in the country's economic, political and social fields.

Zhou urged lawyers to continue to offer efficient and qualified legal services and devote themselves to safeguarding economic order. Lawyers should strive to perform the duties of ensuring the adequate implementation of state laws and promoting judicial justice.

Lawyers should try their best to offer legal aid to poor citizens, giving every citizen access to fair legal protection.

Also on hand were Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme People's Court, and Jia Chunwang, president of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Source: Xinhua