China's leadership pledged Monday to improve the selection, training, evaluation and supervision of city-level top officials, including Party chiefs and mayors.

High-quality city officials are needed to improve governance, realize stable and fast economic growth, and long-term stability, said a statement issued after a meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The country needs to raise the standards for promoting leading city officials, it said.

A city head should be loyal to the Party, the state and people, the statement said.

He or she should have a good understanding of governance, the perspective and quality of being a team leader, adopt a democratic style of decision making and behave according to the rules and laws, it said.

Officials with rich experience of administrative work are more likely to be promoted, it said.

Better training and education will be provided for the city heads, the statement said.

The country will reform the evaluation system of its officials so as to help them better understand the principles of Scientific Outlook on Development and competently self assess their work, it said.

The country will also apply stricter auditing rules on the financial situation of city officials, and tighten rules on the reporting of personal affairs, it said.