Chinese lawmakers have announced plans to start drafting a civil legal code for the country, dealing with non-criminal cases.

Law experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences are gathering up to discuss important legal issues including civil code drafting and the rule of law in Beijing on Jan 13, 2015. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Wang Mengzhen]

The creation of a civil legal code in China has been put off a number of times already, with the last attempt to draft a civil code in 2002 suspended.

Sun Xianzhong is a civil law professor with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The Civil Code makes our legislation more systematic and scientific by integrating civil laws to eliminate conflicts between them. This will ensure judicial procedures are more transparent, and further protect people's basic rights."

Sun Xianzhong says the lack of a cohesive civil code has left gaps and loopholes in the system.

"When I worked on the real estate registration regulations, I found there is discord between the Contract Law and the Property Law. The former stipulates that property transactions only have to be done through contracts. However, the latter requires registration during the transfer of ownership."

Sun Xianzhong expects the drafting of a new civil code will take anywhere from 5 to 8 years.

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