The communiqué issued following a key Party plenum has reaffirmed Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership in advancing the rule of law in China, and calls for the CPC to improve its internal rules and mechanisms.

According to the communiqué, issued after the fourth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, the general aim will be to form a system serving "the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics" and build a country under "the socialist rule of law." To realize this target, the leadership of the CPC must be upheld.

The Party's ruling and governing ability will be maintained and improved by advancing the rule of law and China can only rely on the CPC to advance it and build a country under the socialist rule of law, observers said.

Party leadership, authorized by the Constitution, is consistent with the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the communiqué said, and the Party should rule the country in accordance with the Constitution and laws, and rule itself with its internal rules.

One of the major tasks listed by the communiqué is to sharpen CPC leadership in pushing forward the rule of law.

Yang Xiaojun, a law professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said that China's experience in the past more than six decades has shown that only the CPC has the capability to build a national top-down legal system.

Wang Zhanyang, director of the Political Science Department at the Central Institute of Socialism, shared similar sentiments. He said insisting on CPC leadership is a choice borne of realism, as no other individual or organization can mobilize the people and local governments like the CPC.

At the same time, the CPC has to advance the rule of law, which is essential to social prosperity and reform, in order to maintain its ruling status and mass support, Wang said.

According to the communiqué, the effectiveness of implementing the rule of law will be a significant indicator to judge the work of officials at various levels and will be added to their performance appraisal system.

"To link the building of the legal system with officials' careers can be a huge motivator for them to promote building a law-abiding government," said Wang Jingbo, an expert at the China University of Political Science and Law.

Some local governments have instituted such a performance appraisal system, she noted, adding that the plenum's decision will help to promote the measures nationwide.

The document also stated that Party committees in local governments, judicial organs and people's congresses should lead and supervise the compliance with law.

Party members should take the lead to act under the Constitution and law, Yang said, adding its internal mechanisms will be stricter than the law.

Xinhua contributed to this story