A commentary published on Thursday by the People's Daily calls for maintaining reform, development and stability after China's leadership announced a decision on Tuesday to investigate Bo Xilai for serious violations of discipline. Excerpts below:

The Communist Party of China Central Committee announced on Tuesday to suspend Bo's membership of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and the CPC Central Committee.

At the same time, police authorities announced the reinvestigation of the death of British citizen Neil Heywood, in which Bo's wife and an orderly at Bo's home are highly suspected.

The central authority's decision and the reinvestigation have aroused "strong reactions" among Party members and the society, and government officials and the public firmly support the decision.

The central authority's decision is based on facts and respects the rule of law. It conforms to the Party's will and public opinion, and embodies the Party's political courage to seek the truth from facts and strong will to maintain the Party's purity and socialist rule of law.

It urges the people to understand the significance of the central authority's decision, and consciously act in line with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary.

Currently, China is in a critical period of building a well-off society and deepening reform as well as speeding up transformation of the economic development pattern. To maintain reform, development and stability, the Chinese must unify their thinking and actions in line with the central authority's decision.

The Chinese should firmly support the CPC Central Committee's decision, and unite closer around the CPC Central Committee to push forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(China Daily 04/13/2012 page9)