General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Jan 18, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

General secretary says officials must improve capacity to guard against graft

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Tuesday for unrelenting efforts in exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party, saying that the CPC will continue to show zero tolerance for corruption.

Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark at the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, the Party's top discipline watchdog. The annual session is being held from Tuesday to Thursday in Beijing.

It is imperative that the Party maintain its political orientation in fighting corruption and coordinate efforts in creating a deterrent against corruption, strengthening measures to prevent corruption and building moral defenses against corruption, Xi said.

He warned that the confrontation between corruption and anti-corruption is still ongoing and taking on new characteristics.

The Party still faces a long and arduous task in guarding against the unwarranted influence of various interest groups, responding to hidden and increasingly sophisticated corrupt behavior, thoroughly removing opportunities for misconduct, phasing out systemic corruption and defusing risks and potential hazards, he said.

He urged officials, and especially senior officials, to improve their awareness and capacity to guard against corruption and any attempts at corruption, saying that they must lead by example in disciplining their spouses and children and distance themselves from wrongdoing.

Anti-graft watchdogs nationwide investigated 470,000 cases of corruption in the first nine months of 2021, in which 414,000 officials, including 22 at the provincial or ministerial level, were punished for their wrongdoing, according to the CCDI.

The general secretary said that the CPC, over the course of its century of history, has developed the people's democracy and accepted oversight from the people while exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party and promoting self-reform.

The Party had the courage to uphold the truth and correct its mistakes, which ensured its long-term success and growth, he said.

Going forward, the Party must adhere to its overarching principle of enhancing political building and the fundamental political direction of furthering its self-reform, resolutely implement its eight-point frugality rules and maintain the momentum of fighting corruption and other misconduct, he said.

It is important to enhance the political functions of Party organizations and their power to organize and unite and forge a group of officials who dare and excel in fighting and moving forward with self-reform, Xi said.

He highlighted the necessity for the CPC to develop a system of institutions and norms that can enable its self-improvement and self-reform.

Xi called for efforts to consolidate the outcomes from the Party history learning campaign in order to enable all members to be resolute and purposeful in remaining true to their original aspirations and missions and secure trailblazing progress in promoting growth.

All CPC members must translate their loyalty to the Party and people into actions, carry forward the Party's glorious traditions and fine work style, dedicate themselves to the cause of the CPC and people and deliver a good performance in the new and testing journey, he said.

The general secretary called for stronger political supervision to guide all members to fully understand the policies and plans set out by the CPC Central Committee and ensure their full implementation.

There must be neither compromise nor superficial statements, he said, adding that officials must avoid playing petty tricks to serve their immediate interests.

He underscored that formalism and bureaucratism are the major enemy of the cause of the Party and State, saying that officials must strengthen their systematic thinking and scientific planning and strive for more endeavors that benefit the people.

Xi required efforts to target prominent problems in education, healthcare, eldercare, the pension system, ecology, environmental protection, work safety and food and drug safety－sectors about which the public has made the most complaints.

He called for heightened measures in the education, management and oversight of young officials, saying that they must be guided to stay loyal and faithful to the Party, use their power in the right manner and strictly obey Party discipline and laws.

Source:China Daily