Guangzhou to push forward officials' asset disclosure

GUANGZHOU - Guangzhou will push forward a trial program for government officials' asset declaration and disclosure in the second half of March, an anti-graft official said Wednesday.

Government officials in the south China mega-city's Nansha District will be required to declare not only their housing properties and automobiles, but also information regarding their overseas travels and the employment status of their spouses and sons and daughters, Mei Heqing, spokesman for the standing committee of the Guangzhou City Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), told a press conference.

"Asset disclosure is only a step in fighting corruption. It is not a cure-all," Mei said.

"The fight against corruption also requires systematic measures such as information-sharing and credibility mechanisms," he added.

Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, had previously announced that it would kick off the asset declaration and disclosure programs after the Spring Festival, which fell on February 10 this year.

The move toward officials' asset declaration and disclosure is part of efforts made by the Chinese government in its anti-corruption drive.