China's Xi Jinping vows harsher anti-corruption drive

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping today vowed much harsher anti-corruption drive stressing that the fight against graft is vital to preserve the integrity of the ruling Communist Party in the long term.

60-year-old Xi, also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, called for independent and authoritative supervision from disciplinary agencies against corrupt officials.

"Preventing the party from being corrupted in its long-term rule of the country is a major political mission. And we must do it right," Xi was quoted as saying by official media.

He stressed zero tolerance against graft and promised to seriously punish every corrupt official being caught.

"Do not let regulations become 'paper tigers' or 'scarecrows,'" he said at a party meeting. Endeavors would be intensified to hold officials accountable for wrongdoing, he said.

"Every CPC official should keep in mind that all dirty hands will be caught," he said. "Senior officials should hold Party disciplines in awe and stop taking chances."

In 2013, the party leadership struck hard on corruption and made major progress, Xi said.

A recent report said about 1.82 lakh officials including several ministers were prosecuted for corruption last year.

"The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee set the example for lower officials," Xi said.

After he took over power last year he launched a campaign against corruption saying that both "tigers" and "flies," metaphors for senior and low-ranking officials.