Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a work conference on team building.

    Zhou said the people's courts had played an important role in safeguarding social justice, maintaining a steady social order, and had made remarkable contributions to the country's economic development.

    The majority of the staff of Chinese courts were trusted by the CPC and the Chinese people, he said.

    Zhou urged the courts to intensify investigations into illegal activities carried out by the court staff, to root out cases of judicial injustice reported by the public and earn the trust of the masses.

    The people's court should give top priority to people's interests during their work, he said.

    Those who stand in the way of judicial justice by promoting regional protectionism would be seriously dealt with in accordance with the laws, he said.