Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Vice Premier Wu Bangguo have called on the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) to strengthen its leadership over the country's key State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

In his message to a meeting of the CPC Central Committee Working Committee of Enterprises, Zhu asked the committee to make further studies of the new situation and problems and establish a more effective system to carry out the party's work in key SOEs.

"To enhance the party's leadership over State-owned enterprises is an urgent need for the enterprises' reform and development," said Wu, also secretary of the working committee.

It is imperative that the Party be given a more visible role in the enterprises so as to ensure their smooth reform and development, Wu told the meeting, which opened here today.

Wu listed four aspects of work that should receive more attention in enhancing and improving the party's leadership over the enterprises.

First of all, the party's leadership must be strengthened; this is a key element that should never be compromised, Wu said.

Second, more should be done to improve management in key SOEs. It is vital that managers who have both ability and integrity be selected according to the party's criteria.

Third, it is imperative that the anti-corruption battle be intensified and that leaders of enterprises be honest and clean.

Finally, the supervisory system in the enterprises should be further improved.

The vice premier noted that this is the last of the three years during which the SOEs are required to meet the reform targets, including money-losing SOEs getting out of the red.

The key SOEs that are directly supervised by the State Council should set a good example in the reform. Wu said.