Crackdown on excess helps reshape China

A long-held tradition

Son of revolutionary leader Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping learned from his father's rigorous and disciplined approach to life and work from a young age.

Four children of the family studied at a boarding school, and every weekend, they took the bus home. The elder Xi had never picked them up with his official car.

He taught his children to live frugally and always maintain a humble and modest attitude.

Over the years, a frugal lifestyle, strict self-discipline and strong ties with the masses remained with Xi Jinping.

In the late 1980s, when he served as the Party chief of Ningde, a poor prefecture in Fujian Province, Xi Jinping refused to take a new imported car as his vehicle for official use, and insisted on using an old one left by his predecessor.

"We are in a poverty-stricken area, and we should not flaunt wealth or indulge in extravagance," Xi told his staff.

As he once explained, issues of official misconduct often stemmed from the improper handling of private and public interests, along with the abuse of power.

In 1989, Ningde introduced a set of 12 rules promoting clean governance and self-discipline among officials. These straightforward guidelines prohibited misconduct such as excessive wining and dining during inspection tours and the use of official vehicles for personal purposes.

"The power of us Communists, regardless of its extent, is granted by the people and is mandated solely to work for their benefit," Xi said.

In the early 2000s, after Xi was appointed as Zhejiang's provincial Party chief, Sun Guangming served on his staff, overseeing the planning of Xi's inspections.

He recalled that during these inspections, Xi consistently demanded corrections whenever local officials arranged lavish receptions featuring expensive dishes, fine liquor, or gifts of local specialties.

Sun said that based on Xi's instructions, the general office of the provincial Party committee imposed strict standards for official receptions, giving a heads-up along with Xi's itinerary to local authorities before each inspection tour. These requirements, typically consisting of seven or eight points, resembled the eight-point rules now in effect.

Sun believes the rules, adopted at the Political Bureau meeting chaired by Xi on Dec 4, 2012, signify that Xi has ushered in a new era of the Party's full and rigorous self-governance.