Xi stresses persistent efforts to improve Party conduct

BEIJING -- In recent important instructions, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has stressed that Party conduct — which dictates the Party's image — decides the level of public support the CPC enjoys and its very existence. It is a must to persistently implement the CPC Central Committee's eight-point decision on improving conduct, redouble efforts to strengthen Party building, and forge a team with pure Party spirit and strict discipline, so that the Party will always live up to people's expectations, be able to unite and lead them to successfully fulfill the historic mission entrusted to it.

Xi said that this latest education campaign to thoroughly implement the eight-point decision has been carried out faithfully, with notable results achieved. It has integrated learning, inspection, and rectification; maintained consistency from top to bottom; upheld the principle of strictness; ensured pragmatic and down-to-earth implementation of the decision; and made solid efforts.

Xi noted that pointless formality, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance are stubborn and recurrent issues to tackle. Efforts must be made, with determination and perseverance, to fight a tough and protracted battle, to implement the guiding principles of the central Party leadership's eight-point decision and make it a permanent and regular job to improve conduct. It is imperative to pool collective wisdom and strength through building good conduct to continuously open up new prospects for Party's endeavors, according to the instructions.

It is imperative to make the education campaign more targeted and effective, with a particular focus on guiding newly-promoted and young officials, as well as those in key positions. Mechanisms for identifying and addressing problems on a regular basis should be established and improved. Down-to-earth efforts must be made to rectify misconduct, and constantly send a strong signal that the decision will be implemented with rigor and thoroughness on regular basis. Supervision and enforcement of discipline must be strengthened, with effective daily oversight by Party organizations and the role of public oversight fully leveraged. Officials who violate rules and regulations despite repeated warnings must be swiftly investigated and penalized. Political responsibility for improving conduct must be clarified for those in charge, with strict accountability and stringent management falling into respective jurisdictions so that iron rules can be applied to forge good conduct, driving Party members and officials to foster entrepreneurship, demonstrate initiative and a strong sense of responsibility, and work for the well-being of the people.

The Central Leading Group for Party Building Work (CLGPBW) convened a meeting on August 29 to convey Xi's important instruction, review the education campaign on thoroughly implementing the central Party leadership's eight-point decision, and deliberate on and arrange efforts to consolidate and expand the outcomes of the campaign, persevere in enforcing the eight-point decision, and make it a permanent and regular job to improve conduct.

Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CLGPBW, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech. Li Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the CLGPBW, also attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

It was stressed at the meeting that General Secretary Xi Jinping has once again issued an important instruction on improving Party conduct, which further clarifies the imperative of formulating and implementing the CPC Central Committee's eight-point decision and strengthening Party conduct. The instruction also affirms what the education campaign has achieved, and outlines explicit requirements for consolidating and building on the achievements, unswervingly implementing the decision, and making it a permanent and regular job to improve Party conduct. The instruction holds great significance for the entire Party to adapt to the tasks on the new journey in the new era, strengthen Party conduct building and advance full and rigorous Party self-governance. The entire Party must thoroughly study, comprehend, and fully implement Xi's important instruction.

It was noted at the meeting that in the education campaign on further implementing the guiding principles of the CPC Central Party leadership's eight-point decision, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Party organizations at all levels have fully assumed their political responsibilities and made meticulous arrangements for its implementation, Party members and officials have engaged themselves in the education with due diligence, and the campaign has also received extensive public attention and warm support. The campaign has achieved its aim by promoting the integration of study, inspection and rectification of misconduct, taking real and tough measures to address prominent problems of pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, improving the institutions in this regard and strengthening the functioning of these institutions. As a result, the efforts have paid off.

The imperative was stressed at the meeting to further study and implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi's important speeches and instructions, develop a deeper understanding of the importance of improving Party conduct with higher political awareness, and foster strong awareness that regular, in-depth and persistent efforts must be made in this regard. It is essential to strengthen education on improving Party conduct with diversified approaches, guide Party members and officials to promote the study of the Party's new theories, fortify their ideological guard, and develop a habit of strictly complying with the central Party leadership's eight-point decision and the rules for its implementation.

It was underscored at the meeting that efforts must be continued to address persistent misconduct and improve the regular mechanism for identifying and addressing conduct-related issues. The penetration and effectiveness of supervision should be enhanced, while maintaining a persistent focus on issues requiring long-term endeavors. Integrated efforts should be made to investigate and address both misconduct and corruption to eliminate the breeding ground for formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance. Institutional mechanisms for improving conduct must be refined and strictly implemented to ensure that achievements in institution building are translated into governance efficacy. Leading officials must set an example for their subordinates to strengthen rigorous management and governance, and cascade pressure through every level, so as to ensure the faithful implementation of all arrangements and requirements for improving conduct.

Shi Taifeng, Li Shulei, and Mu Hong attended the meeting.

Members of the CLGPBW and other officials also attended the meeting.