New directive to improve party image and governance

No red carpet, no welcoming banners, no floral decorations, and less empty talks -- these are some of the new directives for China's new leadership. By rejecting extravagances and limiting bureaucracy, China's new generation of leaders aims to polish its image with the public and improve governance. Zhang Nini reports.

A commitment in black and white.

China's new leadership reform contains eight directives. These instruct leaders to keep close contact with the public; to shorten officials meetings; and to issue less official documents.

The regulation asks leaders to cut their spending and reduce their entourages on overseas visits; and to limit traffic controls during official events;

The leaders are not to attend ribbon-cutting ceremonies without the approval of the CPC Central Committee, and they must maintain a frugal lifestyle, complying to regulations on housing and vehicles.

Finally, it asks the media not to report on stories of official events unless they hold real news value.

CPC to boost working efficiency

* Politburo members to be close to grassroots

* Official conferences must be efficient, less official documents

*Spending on official trips cut to minimum

* Fewer accompanying members on official oversea visits

* Fewer traffic controls

* No ribbon-cutting ceremonies without CPC approval

* Officials must have frugal lifestyle

* Media to set news agenda according to news value

Dai Yanjun, deputy head of the Party-building section of the Central Party School, believes such regulations represent a top-down commitment to improve party image and governance.

Dai Yanjun, Deputy Head of Central Party School of CPC, said, "The eight measures are designed to instrict officials from the Politburo. It asks them to set an example first. Second, all of the eight points are related to the interests of the people; And third, the directives are specific and to the point, rather than being mere rhetoric. "

China's top leader himself is the first to live up to these new measures.

General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping recently made a two-day visit to Guangdong, with no welcoming crowds, no banners, no red carpet and no heavy traffic controls.

The way officials are portrayed has also changed. CCTV's own primetime news, the 1900 News Network, is known for a lineup highlighting officials' activities. Recent broadcasts have changed, and this is no longer the case.

"The news routinely puts activities of top level officials on top of their lineup. Now more people from the grassroots are taking prime spots." Dai said.

This is only the beginning. Dai Yanjun believes for such measures to be fully implemented, more efforts on system building are required. This means incorporating such regulations into the Party discipline, to supervise and limit power in the long run.