Discipline inspectors for China's ruling party on Saturday threw their weight behind legal reform and promised to implement the latest plans in their fight against corruption.

The fourth plenary session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC)discussed how to best put the decision of the 18th CPC Central Committee on "comprehensively advancing rule of law" into practice.

Wang Qishan, CCDI chief, told the meeting that discipline inspectors should study the decision carefully, improve their work and ensure that "the leadership's orders will be well delivered".

In the new legal reform plan, the CPC has installed itself as the leader in promotion of the rule of law in China.

When explaining the relationship between the Party's rule and the rule of law, Wang said the Constitution defines the CPC's authority and duties, but Party rules ask the CPC to exercise its power within legal boundaries and implement the law through its policy.

STERNER THAN THE LAW

The history of China shows that the CPC is irreplaceable as the nation's ruling center, which is why it is so important to have a well disciplined CPC, Wang said.

CPC regulations should be sterner than laws, Wang said.

"The CPC is a political organization with a sacred mission. Its members should bear extra political duties," he said. "Once you join the Party, you have to be beyond reproach in your political stance, be obedient to the Party and act as ordered."

All Party departments and members, especially powerful ones, should be subject to rigid restrictions through Party rules and set an example by abiding by the law, he said.

The rule of law and "rule by virtue" must go hand in hand, Wang said. "No matter how perfect the laws and regulations are, no matter how complete the legal system is, laws are implemented by men. If Party members and cadres have moral problems, they will be lax and laws and rules will barely be implemented," said Wang.

The higher a cadre's position is, the more sense of awe he or she should have, said Wang. Party cadres must value historical tradition, morality and etiquette. They must cultivate their mentality and rectify their behavior. Party members must be especially vigilant against forming cliques and shattering Party unity.

TEARING UP "SICK TREES"

The Party is facing a severe and complicated situation in curbing corruption, warned Wang, adding that the Party is still unable to completely root up the sources of harmful working practices, so it may be difficult to prevent them from reemerging.

Despite fierce anti-graft initiatives, there are still officials who refuse to stop their wrongdoings and even step them up, he said.

Wang promised that discipline agencies will remain committed to their anti-graft tasks, "staying clear-headed, having a strong political anchor, keeping faith and resolve".

"Any corrupt officials who go back to their old ways will pay the price," he said. "We will drive on the anti-graft campaign, treating sick trees and uprooting rotten ones."

Wang also promised to improve Party rules to bring them in line with the law: precise, clear and practical.

New measures adopted in anti-corruption campaigns will be incorporated into Party regulations and law.