BEIJING, Nov. 3  -- Communist Party of China (CPC) organizations and members must abide by the Constitution and laws of China, as well as Party rules and regulations to ensure the country's legal system continues to improve, a top anti-graft official said Monday.

Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Wang Qishan, said that the Constitution and legal system were integral to moving the Party forward, and that Party leaders especially must set a sterling example for the rest of society.

The fourth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, held at the end of October, moved to comprehensively promote the rule of law in China.

In his article, run by the Party's flagship newspaper People's Daily, Wang said the Party's leadership and socialist rule of law were consistent with each other.

He said that the Party should translate its guidelines and policies through legal procedure, making them laws and regulations to be followed by everyone.

Wang said the CPC must also be ruled by its internal regulations and disciplines, first of all, the Party Constitution.

The Party's regulations and disciplines impose more restrictions on Party members than common law does on normal citizens, as being a member of the CPC means giving up some of the rights and freedom enjoyed by the general public.

Party members who violate its rules must be inspected and punished by the Party, he stressed, adding that running the Party required strictness, so the discipline inspection departments at all levels should strengthen supervision and address violations promptly.

He said the Party cannot afford to loose the fight against corruption and stressed it would be a long-term, complicated and arduous course.

Wang's suggestions included strengthening discipline inspection and punishment to prevent officials from corruption; developing better selection and supervision systems; and the constant development of Party-spirit cultivation.

He also suggested that elements of Chinese traditional culture, such as ruling the country by its moral code, could support laws and regulations.