Steps to boost transparency in Party affairs got a leg-up Monday with the appointment of a spokesperson for the Communist Party of China (CPC) Organization Department, which is responsible for the scrutiny and selection of Party officials for top administrative posts.

The criteria used to promote competent and honest officials to government positions are vital to ensure good governance as well as stable and effective policymaking.

As the only political party that wields power, the CPC must realize that inner-party democracy is important to consolidate itself and reform the nation's political system.

It is therefore necessary to keep all Party members and non-members informed about its workings and make sure that they effectively supervise Party affairs.

As Vice-Minister Wang Qinfeng of the department said, earnest efforts must be made to guarantee that each member's right to be informed, to participate in, to vote for and to supervise its workings is fully protected.

In fact, only when such rights form the core of the Party's democratic process will members be able to check abuse of power by those in power.

If this department performs a stellar job in providing a channel for all members to voice complaints against abuse of power and if these plaints are acted upon, then such supervision will supplement the anti-corruption battle.

Hopefully, the latest appointment is a signal that the Party is determined to promote internal democracy.