China strengthens anti-graft efforts for clean governance

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang convened a meeting on Wednesday to underline clean governance and reinforce anti-corruption measures in the government.

The meeting was held to learn and implement the speech of Xi Jinping, Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on overcoming corruption at an anti-graft session on Tuesday.

Government staff must abide by political discipline and laws and strengthen efforts to build clean governance, according to a statement released after the meeting of leading officials of the State Council, China's cabinet.

Leading government officials must set themselves as examples for public servants and encourage them to better serve the people and enhance government credibility.

Authorities vowed to eliminate the space for abuse of power and punish the corrupt without hesitation.

The statement outlined measures for building a clean government, saying the central government will streamline administrative approvals and cut red tape to avoid concentration of power.

The central government will also take more actions to ensure fiscal financial security, recover idle capital, ban extravagance and limit spending on public vehicles, travel and receptions.

It will also improve management over public assets and resources and better monitor overseas investment with public funds.

An incentive system should be established to reward the hardworking and punish the lazy and freeloaders, according to the statement.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli attended the meeting.