China to speed up anti-graft legislation; Cut officials' power

BEIJING: In a bid to combat graft, China's ruling Communist Party today initiated measures to ban officials from resorting to extralegal power to subvert law and asked the Parliament to speed up legislation work on an anti-corruption law.

In a decision on rule of law adopted last week and published yesterday, the Central Committee of Communist Party of China ( CPC) said national anti-graft legislation should be introduced as quickly as possible and the system of sanctions and prevention be improved.

CPC initiated moves to ban officials from resorting to extralegal power to subvert law and asked the National People's Congress to speed up legislation work on the anti-corruption law.

It said a list of government powers will be introduced to squeeze out the room for power rent-seeking, or using power to influence regulations and gain business advantages, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The recent key CPC leaders meet has announced series of measures to improve rule of law and independence of judiciary by reducing party leaders' interference in the functioning of the court.

No government authority is allowed to set extralegal power.

Without legal authorisation, they cannot make any decision that will undermine the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, corporations or other organisations, the CPC document said.