Xi calls for more anti-corruption efforts despite achievements

BEIJING, Jan. 13  -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday warned the war on corruption was far from over, despite the country's many achievements.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was speaking at a key meeting during the fifth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which opened Monday.

Other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- including Premier Li Keqiang, top legislator Zhang Dejiang, top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng as well as Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli -- attended the meeting, together with many other senior officials. CCDI chief Wang Qishan presided over the meeting.

ANTI-GRAFT EFFECTIVE, CHALLENGES REMAIN

Xi evaluated the countercorruption drive in 2014 as "effective", saying the work was as a matter of life-or-death for the Party and the nation.

He acknowledged that the Party had fought corruption with "a strong sense of responsibility [and] a deep commitment to its mission."

The CPC had taken a zero tolerance stance when dealing with corrupt members, making sure no one was above sanctions and that government officials "dare not, can not and do not want to [be] corrupt".

Xi praised the CCDI for its achievements in 2014, saying that undesirable work styles were being addressed and discipline enforcement had been supported by more frequent inspections.

The Party had invested greater efforts to treating the root causes of corruption and the discipline inspection system had been improved, Xi added.

The CPC had dealt with cases implicating corrupt high-ranking officials -- such as Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihou, Ling Jihua and Su Rong -- which showed the world that the CPC was not scared of taking a "self-purifying" approach, according to Xi.

However, he warned, more work must be done to truly cure the ills of corruption.

Misconduct may have abated but had not vanished, he said, and although countercorruption mechanisms had been developed, they were not perfect and temptations still existed.

Xi concluded that the task of reshaping China's political environment should always be in motion.

Nevertheless, he said, with inter-Party cooperation and the people's utmost support: "We will win the fierce and protracted war against corruption and build a clean Party and government."

Gao Bo, deputy secretary-general of the Clean Government Studies Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said that Xi's speech reflected his confidence in the country's overall countercorruption measures.

He understands what has been achieved and what has not, and his vow on zero tolerance now sets the bar even higher, Gao said.

STRONG REMEDIES NEEDED, RULES TO BE FOLLOWED

Xi Jinping told discipline officials that "strong remedies must be used to cure the illness" of corruption.

He introduced 2015's four-point discipline work requirements, which underscored that corrupt officials must be held accountable for their actions, responsibility for the building of the Party should be strengthened at all levels and the improvement of systems needed to continue.

In addition, efforts to rectify undesirable workstyles should continue and misconduct, Xi said, must be dealt with accordingly.

"Our determination [...] will not change. Our courage to rid our bones of poison will not diminish. We will also continue to hold the sharp sword of countercorruption high," Xi added.

The president stressed that Party discipline system reform must continue alongside enhanced institutional innovation and supervision.

Party rules are an important test of loyalty, he said, thus, discipline should always be given priority.

Xi told Party members to follow the traditions of the Party as well as the constitution, and the authority of the CPC Central Committee must be safeguarded at all times.

Organizational procedures and structure must be observed and members must obey the Party's decisions. Leading cadres, especially senior members, must play an leading role in championing an atmosphere of discipline.

Gao Bo said Xi had repeatedly stressed the importance of rules and discipline because of violations by party cadres in the past.

If the party was a house, the rules are the beams and frames, without the rules, the building is only a castle in the sky, Gao said.

Laws govern a country, while rules and discipline manage officials, according to Ma Huaide, vice president of the China University of Political Science, adding that Party regulations are becoming stricter than laws.

SOEs KEY SECTOR IN ANTI-CORRUPTION

Xi told officials to better supervise state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

"State-owned assets and resources belong to all the people [of China]," Xi said.

The CPC's control of such enterprises should be intensified and the supervision of SOE bosses strengthened, he said.

Departments and positions -- which deal with large amounts of power, money or resources -- should receive special attention and stricter supervision, he said.

The intra-Party supervision system should be enhanced, he said, starting with Party regulations -- such as the ethics code -- and discipline penalties. The system of selection, appointment and management of officials must also be improved.

"Officials should be truthful in their lives and faithful in their duties," Xi said.

These comments imply that officials need to be aware of their positions and exercise their power within the law, Ma Huaide said, adding that Xi was also warning officials that their positions were not compatible with a get-rich-quick life.

Xi told discipline inspectors at all levels that fighting corruption and fostering clean governance were their central tasks.

"Inspectors must shoulder their responsibilities and carry out supervision [on corruption] while remaining loyal, honest and responsible."

Wang Qishan said that Xi's speech demonstrated commitment to running the Party strictly.

He called on discipline and inspection officials at all levels to use Xi's remarks to guide their work.