CPC sets persistent austerity efforts in motion

Communist Party of China (CPC) members nationwide have been urged to keep away from undesirable work styles in a new document seeking to continue the legacy of the recently concluded anti-corruption campaign.

"A high-handed crackdown on undesirable work styles must be maintained... It should be clearly realized that the results of the previous educational campaign were only preliminary and not solid, and effective measures should be taken to prevent misconduct from recurrence," said a guideline made public by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on Tuesday.

The "mass-line" campaign began in June last year to strengthen ties between CPC officials and the general public by cleaning up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.

Empty speeches, interminable meetings, lavish banquets and entertainment at VIP clubs were all targets of the campaign. With a focus on officials at or above county level, Party members examined their own conduct, laid their problems bare, analyzed causes and made plans to set things right.

Tuesday's document came after several senior leaders, including President Xi Jinping, warned officials that the campaign was only a start and persistent effort was needed to stem officials' corrupt acts.

According to the guideline, efforts should be made to frequently analyze the acts of Party officials and members as well as issues raised by local people to "solve whatever is a problem."

It urged leading officials at or above the county level to take the lead in straightening out their own behavior while supervising efforts within their own jurisdiction.

Party organizations at county, city and province levels were told to jointly see to the rectification of issues uncovered during the campaign on a case by case basis, and such cases won't be closed until people's satisfaction and approval.

The guideline also called for strict rules to regulate official use of power, preventing and punishing wrongdoers as part of the country's long-term anti-corruption drive.

"Officials going against the rules and their supervising superiors will both be held accountable... and those committing serious violations will be exposed to the public with their full names," it said.