Crackdown on excess helps reshape China

The Communist Party of China has launched a four-month campaign to urge its around 100 million members to bolster compliance with a code of conduct that has strengthened the Party over the past 12 years.

This education campaign on the eight-point rules was planned by none other than China's top leader Xi Jinping. During his inspection tour to Southwest China in March, Xi urged Party organs at all levels to meticulously organize and implement the campaign.

He called for fighting misconduct and corruption as a whole, and making relentless efforts to root out the underlying conditions for corruption.

Exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance has been a signature and cornerstone of Xi's leadership. In his first media appearance as the newly elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012, he candidly acknowledged that the Party faced "numerous severe challenges", with corruption being a primary concern.

He immediately started addressing the issue by tackling the deteriorating conduct of officials — some had indulged in extravagance, grown content with empty formalities, or put on an air of bureaucracy.

"The Party's conduct is crucial to winning the people's support and is a matter concerning the Party's survival or demise," Xi said.

In less than 20 days, the eight-point rules were introduced by the CPC central leadership. Spelled out in just over 600 words, the eight-point rules established regulations for Party leaders regarding research tours, meetings, documentation and other official duties, cracking down on lavish banquets, red carpet events, pomp, entourages, unnecessary meetings, and luxury perks that had once been regarded by some as typical symbols of power.

According to the eight-point rules, when conducting grassroots field studies, officials should learn from the people on the ground. Ceremonial formalities such as banners and floral arrangements are not allowed. Official meetings and events must be streamlined. Security protocols such as traffic control and road or venue closures should be minimized.

The code of conduct started off with a bang, yielding immediate and remarkable results.

"Few anticipated that the persistent issues of official extravagance plaguing China's political circles would undergo such a striking transformation," Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao newspaper observed.

Over the past decade, the eight-point rules have continuously evolved and today remain a defining hallmark of Xi and the CPC's efforts to ensure good and clean governance.