2013: hot words in China (3)

Mass Line Campaign

"Mass line" refers to a guideline under which the Communist Party of China (CPC) officials and members are required to prioritize the interests of the people and persist in representing them and working on their behalf.

Since this April, the CPC has carried out a year-long mass line campaign, to conduct a "thorough cleanup" of undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance. Party members should be critical and self-critical in the spirit of rectifying improper work styles.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, raised a metaphorical requirement for CPC members, using the phrase "watching from the mirror, grooming oneself, taking a bath and seeking remedies."

"Watching from the mirror" requires the members to refer to the CPC Constitution as a mirror and to live up to CPC discipline and public expectations.

"Grooming oneself" means correcting one's misconduct and projecting a good image of the CPC members.

"Taking a bath" requires the CPC members to keep a clean mind and behave properly so as to maintain the nature of a CPC member.

"Seeking remedies" means educating or punishing those who engage in misconduct.