CPC Central Committee maintains frugality campaign

BEIJING - With the annual "two sessions" approaching, China's new leadership has vowed to fight corruption and stick to an ongoing frugality campaign.

The annual sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, and the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, will open on March 3 and 5, respectively.

Some observers believe the implementation of the frugality and anti-corruption campaigns will be hot topics at the upcoming sessions.

Over the past three months, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's call for frugality among officials has won wide welcome and support from the people, though some overseas media have shown concern over how long the campaign might last.

As a result of the frugality movement, gala events and extravagant banquets paid for with public funds were effectively curbed during this year's Spring Festival, which ended on Feb 15.

However, after the week-long holiday ended, Xinhua reporters noticed that acts of extravagance and corruption -- including banquets paid for with public funds and luxury gift-giving among cadres -- continued covertly, with such activities being moved to places like private residences or government canteens.

The upcoming meetings serve as an important channel for the CPC Central Committee to hear what the public has to say about the implementation of the campaigns, via NPC and CPPCC participants.

Zhou Hanmin, vice chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, wrote in a draft proposal that turning the campaigns into established practice is a good remedy for extravagance.

For the CPC to firmly stick to carrying out its frugality drive in the long run, it is essential to start building the drive into an institution, said NPC deputy Yan Chengzhong, director of the Institute of Economic Development and Cooperation at the Shanghai-based Donghua University.

At the "two sessions," some participants plan to propose improving the budgeting, auditing, evaluation, accountability and supervision systems regarding official receptions and events.

The integration of rigid institutional restrictions, strict implementation, powerful media monitoring and a strict disciplinary punishment mechanism can better ensure the effectiveness of the frugality campaign, Zhou said.

During the upcoming sessions, China's new leadership will also collect information and experiences from foreign countries and keep this in mind while carrying out policy-making work.

Liu Jingbei, a professor with the China Executive Leadership Academy in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, explained that some developed countries curtail corruption among government officials and employees by enacting relevant laws such as anti-graft laws and anti-bribery laws.

Analysts say the anti-extravagance movement is a starting point for a series of campaigns from the new leadership, and more effective measures will be adopted to improve the conduct of the Party, the government and society.

The CPC Central Committee has promised to implement the frugality campaign, as the move has enjoyed wide public support, Liu said, adding that this is a promise that should be kept for the long haul.