To solve the outstanding problem in regard to Party style and honest administration, it is essential to adhere to the principle for the Party to govern the Party and strictly administer the Party; and strictly implement the responsibility system for the Party style and honest administration construction. This is an important experience gained in the campaign for Party style and honest administration construction and in the anti-corruption struggle.

The "Regulation on Implementation of the Party Style and Honest Administration Construction Responsibility System" printed by distribution by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in November 1988, set down explicit stipulations on the general requirement, responsibility content, responsibility assessment and responsibility investigation and affixation. Over the past few years, Party committees at various levels have done a great deal of work and achieved good results in conscientiously implemented the "Regulation". Our cadre ranks are good as a whole, a large batch of outstanding cadres who are Party members have appeared on various fronts. But it must be noticed soberly that some problems existing in Party style and honest administration construction are in need of urgent solution and the task of combating corruption and promote honest administration is still very arduous. We must deeply understand the extreme importance of strengthening construction of Party style and conscientiously implement the responsibility system for the construction of Party style and honest administration.

In strictly implementing the responsibility system for Party style and honest administration construction, currently we should pay particular attention to the following questions:

First, leading cadres should set an example in governing themselves well, and set strict demands on their families members and personnel around them. They should strictly abide by the stipulations on prohibition against acceptance of cash gifts and negotiable securities. They should employ people in a just and honest way, those who run after and ask for official posts not only should not be given, but also should be criticized and educated, and should be put on record by organization departments. Relevant stipulations on the employment of leading cadres'spouses and children should be strictly implemented, leading cadres are absolutely not allowed to seek private gain and act in violation of law and discipline by flaunting their own banner and abusing their power and influence.

Second, leading cadres should properly govern their subordinates, and should effectively grasp the Party style and honest administration work in the departments under their charge. In line with the principle, "he who is in charge should hold himself responsible", the tasks of combating corruption and promoting honest administration should be assigned to relevant functional departments and to each leading cadre, so that one level is grasped by another, responsibilities are placed on different levels and tasks are carried out by all levels. When cases of violation of law and discipline occur within the scope under their charge, leading cadres should investigate and deal with the case whenever it is discovered, they should not shield shortcomings, nor be indulgent toward such drawbacks or mistakes.

Third, rigorous responsibility assessment should be conducted, supervision and check should be strengthened and the role of supervision mechanism should be brought to play. The system under which leading cadres report on their work and administration should be carried out, principal responsible members of provincial, municipal and county Party committees should report at the annual plenary session of the Party committee on the situation regarding their own work and the honest administration of the leading body. If the Party organization discovers that there are embryonic problems concerning leading cadres' working styles, moral characters, and honest and diligent administration, it should conduct timely talks of exhortation and encouragement to prevent minor mistakes from developing into grave errors. The system for leading cadres to report on their own major matters should be earnestly carried out, so that Party organization can have a timely grasp of the situation regarding the employment and trip abroad of leading cadres' spouses and children. The quality of meetings of democratic life should be improved, sincere and effective criticisms and self-criticisms should be carried out. The inspection group should conscientiously perform its responsibility, strengthen check-up on the situation regarding implementation of the Party style and honest administration construction responsibility system and try as far as possible to clearly understand the situation concerning members of the leading body, especially the "chief leader".

Fourth, Party discipline should be strictly enforced and strength of investigating and affixing responsibility should be increased. Failing to perform or incorrectly performing responsibility is dereliction of duty, which must be blamed. Responsibility will be investigated and affixed in accordance with the regulations on Party disciplinary sanction for cases of those who fail to set strict demands on, and are neglectful of management and supervision over their spouses, children and working personnel around them in line with stipulations, and thus resulting in serious violation of laws and discipline among members of the leading body or among their subordinates and causing very bad influence; those who fail to act according to rules and to resist the practice of running after and asking for official posts, thus causing serious oversight and mistakes, and those who fail to exercise effective leadership or even neglect their responsibilities and relax their grasp, with the result that unhealthy trends cannot be checked for a long time, and problems of major corruption appear again and again.

The style of the ruling Party bears on the image of the Party, on the life and death of the Party and state. Leading cadres at all levels must be prepared for danger in times of peace, enhance their awareness of hardships, take up the responsibility for all-round leadership and carry out the responsibility system for Party style and honest administration construction in accordance with the overall plan of the Party Central Committee.

The above commentary was published on the front page of People's Daily September 8, 2004 and translated by People's Daily Online