The disciplinary watchdog of the Communist Party of China (CPC) pledged a heavier crackdown on corruption and other acts that violate CPC discipline, according to a work report released on Monday.

"The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC punished 115,143 members last year, accounting for 1.7 per thousand of the party membership total," says the report on the work of the commission, delivered by secretary Wu Guanzheng at the commission's Sixth Plenary Session on January 5.

About 15,177 of punished numbers have been handed over to judicial departments for suspected involvement in criminal activities, the report says.

The report disclosed that disciplinary organs of various levels put on file for investigation 147,539 cases involving violations of the CPC's disciplines from December 2004 through November 2005. Of these cases, 148,931 cases have been closed, which resulted in the expulsion of 24,188 members from the CPC.

According to the report, 4,878 officials nationwide admitted they owned stakes in coalmines, with a total registered capital of 737 million yuan (US$91 million). Of this, 562 million yuan (US$69.4 million) had been withdrawn by November 2005.

"A campaign to make government officials and leaders of state-owned enterprises give up their shares in coal mines has achieved initial success," Wu said in the report.

The CPC's top discipline official also disclosed in his report that disciplinary organs of various levels dealt with 21,010 complaints involving administrative licensing and penalized 2,845 CPC members for their roles in such cases.

China put in force the Administrative Licensing Law in 2004 to simplify administrative licensing procedure and regulate the use of administrative power, considered key to reducing corruption.

According to the report, the CPC's disciplinary organs punished 240 officials at and above the county level responsible for 115 most serious accidents.

The report listed major tasks of the commission in 2006, which include:

-- Maintaining the CPC's discipline by actively performing its obligation of discipline watchdog to safeguard building of harmonious society.

-- Improving the work style of the party and resolutely rectify unhealthy performances that harm interests of the people.

-- Educating leading cadres of the importance of maintaining integrity and fighting corruption through various ways, including publicizing good examples and bad examples.

-- Strictly enforcing party disciplines by resolutely punishing officials who have violated the disciplines.

-- Deepening reform and improving the current system to stem corruption at its sources.

-- Strengthening check and supervision over the use of power.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2006)