Some 100,000 of China's lawyers have played a vital role in the country's economic development over the last three years. Collectively, they have salvaged about 500 billion yuan (some US$60 billion) for the country through their handling of economy-related cases, and providing sound legal counsel in major economic reconstruction projects.

The information was released at the Sixth National Lawyers Congress, which opened in Beijing on Tuesday.

Gao Zongze, head of the National Association of Lawyers, said that lawyers have become an indispensable and important force in China's economic reconstruction. They play a crucial role in policy-making and supervision in the financial, securities and futures markets.

Lawyers have also vigorously pushed forward the development of the country's legal environment. In the past three years, Chinese lawyers have been involved in the deliberation of more than 50 laws and regulations, such as the Administrative Licensing Law, Property Law, Lawyer Law and Regulation on Legal Aid.

Currently, 1,656 lawyers serve as deputies to the People's Congress at various levels and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and local committees of CPPCC at different levels. They have collectively submitted several thousand motions that represent the voice of the people.

Since the promulgation of the Regulations on Legal Aid on September 1, 2003, Chinese lawyers have given pro bono assistance in more than 240,000 cases, helping a large number of needy citizens.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2005)