China to hold inactive, incompetent officials accountable: Premier

BEIJING, March 15 -- Government officials must be held responsible for their inaction, incompetence or indolence, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Sunday.

Officials found irresponsible and careless in excising their power must be punished and they were also not allowed to be inactive or incompetent, Li said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

He noted that some government officials have made the administrative procedures easier for the public and no longer pulled a long face toward the people, but at the same time they were not willing to solve people's problems.

"They are inactive and must be held accountable seriously," he said.

Li made the remarks while speaking about China's anti-corruption campaign that had brought down a number of high-ranking officials.

"We have yielded good results and won people's support," he said.

He stressed the rule of law in fighting against corruption, with every one being equal before the law.

No one should be allowed to exercise power outside the jurisdiction of law, he said.

Efforts to streamline administrative approvals and delegate powers would be stepped up to eliminate the breeding soil for corruption, he said, noting rent-seeking was a common behavior of many corrupt officials.

Government officials must also enhance their sense of disciplines, using power for public good rather than private gains, he added.