The Eight Rules
These Eight Rules for improving work practices and building closer ties with the people were issued at a Political Bureau meeting on December 4, 2012. They cover the following main areas:
–doing better research and analysis and truly understanding actual conditions when doing grassroots-level studies;
–streamlining meetings and improving the way meetings are conducted;
–making documents and briefing papers more concise and improving writing styles;
–standardizing procedures for working visits abroad;
–improving security guard work and continuing to observe the principle of doing what improves relations with the people;
–improving news report;
–having strict rules on the publication of articles; and
–promoting frugality and the strict observance of rules on incorruptibility in government.
These eight rules are neither the highest standards, nor are they the ultimate ones. They are only the first step in the CPC's efforts to improve its practices – the minimum expected of Party members. Xi Jinping stated that, "Leading officials at all levels must lead by example and serve as role models, they must do as they say and live up to their promises. Within the Politburo, I will start with myself." Following the release of the eight rules, a series of measures on work practices are being issued.
八項規定
是指中共中央政治局2012年12月4日召開會議確定的關于改進工作作風、密切聯系群眾的八項規定。主要內容是：改進調查研究，到基層調研要深入了解真實情況；精簡會議活動，切實改進會風；要精簡文件簡報，切實改進文風；規范出訪活動；改進警衛工作，堅持有利于聯系群眾的原則；改進新聞報道；嚴格文稿發表；厲行勤儉節約，嚴格遵守廉潔從政有關規定。八項規定既不是最高標準，更不是最終目的，只是中共改進作風的第一步，是共產黨人應該做到的基本要求。習近平要求，“各級領導干部要以身作則、率先垂范，說到的就要做到，承諾的就要兌現，中央政治局同志從我本人做起。”八項規定之后，一系列關于作風建設的措施陸續出臺。
