Senior leader stresses strenghening Party discipline

China's top discipline inspector Wang Qishan stressed that the Communist Party of China (CPC) should be governed strictly with all members adhering to the code of conduct.

Wang, chief of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the comments at a seminar attended by Party members and the public during his inspection tour of Fujian Province from Thursday to Saturday.

Wang said strict Party governance should not equate to anti-corruption, although the latter forms an important part of the former.

The Party code of conduct has a prominent role in governing the Party, he added.

In order to implement the code of conduct, CPC members must be self critical, and not afraid to inform on the dereliction of duty or untoward behavior of fellow members, Wang said.

Wang said it was high time that the dated distinction between "good comrade" or "prisoners" be snuffed out.

Officials subject to minor disciplinary penalties should be the majority of those who have made mistakes, while severely punished or demoted officials should just be a small proportion -- and those who are prosecuted for suspected law-breaking less still.

The CPC, since its conception, has struggled along the path of self-correction and renewal journey, Wang acknowledged. Enditem