Premier Wen (C) speaks at the annucal State Council anti-graft
conference in Beijing Friday, February 9, 2007. [Xinhua]
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BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao on Friday announced the measures his government will take in the new year
to check corruption, targeting in particular unnecessary red tape, collusion
between officials and businessmen, extravagance and waste.
Addressing an annual State Council anti-graft conference, Wen told officials
that there are many obstacles in the drive to build a clean government. A series
of major corruption cases have been exposed and there is a "serious" problem of
officials abusing their posts or colluding with businessmen to make profits.
"A handful of graft cases involving high ranking officials have had a very
negative impact on society," Wen said. "Waste and extravagance are rampant among
officials and some issues concerning common people's immediate interests
remained unsolved."
Wen ordered focusing on five tasks this year, centering around regulating the
use of executive power:
-- cut government red tape, including the process of approving projects and
issuing various certificates.
-- continue the fight against commercial bribery;
-- curb the widespread trend of building and renovating government offices
against regulations;
-- promote a thrifty lifestyle;
-- and solve problems of particular concern to the public, including issues
concerning housing, medical care, and food safety.
Wen vowed greater efforts in fighting collusion between officials and
businessmen in commercial bribery, especially in cases concerning construction
projects, land leases, purchase of pharmaceuticals, and exploitation of natural
resources.
On construction of government offices, Wen said departments which already
have suitable offices are not allowed to buy new offices or expand their
buildings. And any government office construction deemed as waste or
inappropriate should be stopped or delayed immediately.
"Leaders of various levels of governments should take the lead in the
anti-graft drive. They should strictly ensure that their family members,
friends, and close subordinates do not abuse government influence," Wen said.
Wen last month ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of
corruption against Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of the State Food and Drug
Administration (SFDA).
Zheng failed to properly supervise the drug market, abused the
administration's drug approval authority by taking bribes and turned a blind eye
to malpractice by relatives and subordinate officials, said a notice released by
the Party's discipline watchdog.
China's widely publicized anti-graft fight has led to the downfall of a
number of high-profile corrupt officials in recent months. Many were found to be
enjoying cozy ties with business tycoons who supplied them with extravagant
gifts and prostitutes.
Last year's snowballing Shanghai pension funds scandal began with the arrest
of business tycoon Zhang Rongkun, whose company was found to have received
illicit loans from a company under Shanghai's labor and social security bureau.
The investigation brought down Shanghai's former party chief Chen Liangyu,
also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and later
the state's top statistician Qiu Xiaohua.
Qiu was expelled from the Communist Party for "taking bribes from company
owners, leading a dissolute life and bigamy".
The central government has asked officials to simplify their lifestyles and
shun people who try to take advantage of their influence by offering them money,
lavish banquets or sexual favors.