BEIJING - The discipline authorities of the Communist Party of China (CPC) appreciated the positive effects of microblog websites and other new media channels in the country's anti-corruption drive, said an official of the discipline watchdog.

The CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) as well as the country's Supervision Ministry have received a large number of online reports of corruption through these channels and corruption and misconduct cases were uncovered by official investigations responding to the reports, Sun Zhiyong, deputy director of a research center on clean-governance theories under the CCDI, said during an online chat with Internet users on Monday.

New media has carried a significant weight in the public's engagement in the country's battle against corruption, and the authorities will beef up the collecting, examination and handling of clues from this kind of media, Sun said.

A communique released last week at the end of a CCDI plenary session pledged to enhance efforts to tap the positive role of new media in China's anti-corruption drive.