Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao said Wednesday the Party would fight harder against corruption, with more effort to prevent corruption through improved education, internal Party democracy, a sound legal system and institutional reform.
Addressing the 2nd Plenary Session of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Hu said corruption remained a problem in China despite the Party's efforts in the past decade.
Hu, general secretary of the CPC's Central Committee, urged the Party to continue working hard to fight corruption.
He said the need to battle corruption in the country remained serious and the task was still difficult.
On future efforts to improve the Party's style of operating and anti-corruption drive, Hu said China should do more to punish corrupt officials according to the law and Party discipline.
Priority should be given to corruption committed by middle- and high-ranking cadres which greatly harmed the image of the Party and the country and had serious consequences, he said.
He stressed the need to deepen institutional reform to set up a system to prevent corruption, while greater efforts should be made to promote internal Party democracy in a bid to improve checks and supervision on how leading cadres used their power.
Among those attending were Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Li Changchun, Luo Gan and Wu Guanzheng, members of the 9-seat Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2003)
