The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee announced Wednesday that it has adopted a legal counsel and public office lawyer system.

Appointment letters and certificates were issued to the first group of counsels and lawyers at a meeting held by the office.

It is a major step in promoting the rule of law and strict governance of the general office, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued a guideline last year, which ordered the adoption of a legal counsel system at governments and Communist Party committees above the county-level as well as state-owned enterprises (SOE).

Government and Party organizations should listen to the opinions of legal counsels before making major decisions, involve them in the process of decision-making, formulation of major government policies and intra-Party rules, and the handling of legal cases and emergency situations, said the guideline.

Legal counsels are also required to participate in negotiations involving government or party organizations and deal with other legal matters.