China's top anti-graft authority has pledged to maintain a tough stance on corruption in 2017 and promote "comprehensively and strictly governing the Party" to go deeper.
Efforts are needed to maintain a sound intra-Party political environment and prepare for the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress to be held this year, according to a communique released after the seventh plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) held from Friday to Sunday.
The communique called for strengthened intra-Party supervision and strict procedures for official selection and promotion, so as to guarantee selection of clean officials for central and local governments.
"Trust cannot take the place of supervision," said the communique, adding that discipline inspection agencies should integrate self-discipline with other forms of supervision, including supervision within the Party and by the society.
Chinese President and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping spoke at the meeting, which was also attended by leaders including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.
The plenum also deliberated and passed work rules for discipline inspection organs.
The rules clarify procedures regarding the handling of cases, such as the collection and verification of facts, case filing, case hearing, and how to dispose money and goods involved in the case.
ADHERENCE TO CPC LEADERSHIP
"It is a must to conform with the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, as the core, and maintain solidarity and unity of the Party," said the communique.
To uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core is the basic guarantee for adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, it said.
To strictly govern the CPC, the communique emphasized to strengthen disciplines in intra-Party political life and reinforce supervision within the Party.