Strict observance of Party discipline, rules stressed

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has urged senior Party leaders to set an exemplary and leading role in observing Party rules, reiterating that anti-corruption efforts will always be ongoing as long as the “soil” for corruption remains in place.

Xi made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was held on Thursday and Friday.

He urged members of the Political Bureau to take the lead in strictly observing the Party’s discipline and rules and in promoting the Party’s fine traditions and work style, remain steadfastly loyal to the Party, and selflessly dedicate themselves to the cause of the Party and the people.

The meeting was held in accordance with the Party’s traditional practice of criticism and self-criticism, in which Party members reflect on their own performance while providing comments on those of others.

Starting from 2015, the Political Bureau has made it a routine practice at the end of the year to hold such annual sessions in order to promote intra-Party democracy and supervision. This year’s meeting centered on Party discipline education, a Party-wide campaign from April to July in which CPC members studied the newly revised Party regulations on disciplinary action to strengthen their discipline awareness and always remain loyal, clean and responsible.

During the two-day meeting, the 24 members of the Political Bureau, the nation’s top leadership, each made speeches, reflecting on their own thoughts and work and reviewing that of their colleagues.

Addressing the meeting, Xi said that it was effective in achieving the goals of exchanging ideas, examining problems and finding the way forward. It helped the members of the Political Bureau to enhance unity, improve work styles and strengthen their sense of responsibility and mission, he added.

Xi highlighted the role of Party discipline in educating and regulating Party members, saying that it should also play a part in protecting and providing incentives to those who are entrepreneurial.

Political Bureau members should not only become role models in abiding by the Party rules, but should also provide support for those who are responsible and entrepreneurial, he said.

Xi pointed out that Party discipline is designed to ensure that power will be exercised in a proper way and guard against seeking personal gains, and it serves as a guardrail for Party members and leading officials to maintain integrity and cleanliness.

It is important to be clearheaded about the situation of anti-corruption, and the fight against corruption must be resolute and show no signs of slackening or weakness, he said.

He urged the Political Bureau members to be strict with themselves, use the power in their hands with the utmost prudence, oversee Party conduct in their respective areas of responsibility or regions under their governance and vigorously combat all forms of misconduct and corruption.

Family members and close associates should also be checked, he added.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn