China Focus: Leaders' practices inspire reform

Government officials are now being pressured to follow in the footsteps of Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders who have adopted simple working methods in an attempt to shore up public trust.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was recently seen carrying his own plate to pick up food at a cafeteria while touring a military facility in south China's Guangdong province, an act seen by some as an attempt to encourage officials to forego bureaucracy and entitlement.

Xi's inspection tour also featured no traffic restrictions, a practice commonly used to ensure security during inspection tours that has also inconvenienced many regular citizens.

Netizens have applauded Xi's practices during the tour, stating that he has set a good example by rejecting extravagance and reducing bureaucracy.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Dec. 4 approved measures that ban welcome banners, red carpets, floral arrangements and grand receptions for official visits, as well as reduce traffic controls.

Some netizens have started to keep an eye out for acts that might violate the new requirements. On Wednesday, traffic police in east China's Jiangxi province clarified that an expressway had been blocked because of an emergency drill after a netizen complained that the expressway may have been blocked because of an official visit.

Government departments have started to release details for the implementation of similar measures following the Political Bureau's meeting.

The Supreme People's Court on Wednesday announced plans to improve its own working methods by forbidding meetings at luxurious hotels, controlling the number of meetings and receiving inspectors in a more simple fashion.

In Shanghai, officials at multiple levels are required to take shuttle buses when they attend activities together instead of using private cars. In central China's Hunan province, the CPC provincial committee and government have forbidden expensive dinners or gift exchanges for business purposes.

Shangguan Jiurui, an instructor at the Party School of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, said some CPC officials have used formal and bureaucratic customs that have isolated them from the people.

"Their deeds may anger the people, trigger conflicts and jeopardize relations between the CPC and the people," Shangguan said.

The CPC leaders' reforms will help change those customs, Shangguan said.

A commentary that ran in the Friday edition of the People's Daily said rules made to regulate officials will give the public a sense of relief.

"Under strict rules, officials will not be comfortable, but the people will be more comfortable and have better feelings toward officials," the commentary said.