President Xi promises harsher anti-corruption drive (2)

POWER RESTRICTION

While praising the achievements, Xi stressed that hotbeds of corruption still exist, and the anti-corruption situation is still austere and complicated.

Describing the problem as "a disease that calls for powerful drugs," Xi urged all Party members to continue the fight against corruption until the end with the resolution and courage depicted in an ancient Chinese idiom where a man has to cut off his own snake-bitten wrist to save his life.

Power should be subject to stricter checks, for which purpose the way how powers are distributed among different levels and departments of governments and how are they exercised must be improved, he said.

The President also stressed intensified supervision on leading officials' exercise of power as well as internal supervision within the leading bodies.

To ensure correct exercising of power, its operational process must be made public, with citizens invited to supervise, he said.

The prevention of corruption must be taken into consideration in the country's various reform measures so as to stop all potential loopholes and ensure reform proceeds smoothly, according to the president.

Xi urged Party officials to follow a selfless work style, divide public and personal matters clearly, give priority to public matters, discreetly wield their power and lead open and honest lives.

"Problems in work style are always related to public money and official power. Not one cent of public money should be squandered and not a slight bit of official power should be abused for personal ends," Xi said.

Stressing unconditional obedience to Party disciplines, he urged disciplinary departments at all levels to safeguard these disciplines and investigate every case of violation.

According to Xi, long-term efforts are needed to solve problems that hinder the flesh-and-blood relations between the Party and the people, and a good start must be followed by surefooted steps.

He cited a five-year (2013-2017) plan on building a system to punish and prevent corruption as a guideline that needs meticulous implementation by Party committees at various levels in all their work aspects including reform, development and stability.

Released last month by the CPC Central Committee, the plan vowed a "high-handed posture" in the anti-graft drive and urged particular efforts to deal with cases involving power-for-money deals, judicial corruption, major violations of political discipline, corruption-induced mass incidents, commercial bribery, and official selection.