1st Ld-Writethru: Corrupt officials in key posts top anti-graft target: communique

China's top anti-graft body on Thursday identified corrupt officials on key posts as priority targets of the graft-busting campaign in a communique.

The communique was issued after the sixth plenary session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was held from Tuesday to Thursday.

It said in the general work requirements for 2016 that those who hold important posts and are likely to be further promoted but have not stepped back from their serious corrupt behaviors will be "top priority."

According to the communique, the CPC will maintain a heavy-handed approach against corruption, "with unabated forces and unchanging rhythm."

Anti-graft officials will work to reduce corruption and prevent corruption cases from growing. Work also needs to be done to make sure officials "do not dare to be corrupt" and to strengthen the system so that officials "are unable and unwilling to be corrupt."

Greater efforts will be made to pursue fugitives and recover stolen assets as part of upgraded international cooperation against corruption, according to the communique.

The communique stressed the Eight-Point Regulations calling for frugality, warning that holidays are particularly prone to breaches of the regulations.

It emphasized the exemplary roles of the "key minority," or officials of high rank, in following the frugality rules, saying efforts to implement the regulations will not relent during holidays.

The communique specified that those who attend private VIP clubs or organize secretive get-togethers will be punished heavily. For those who attend the gatherings, disciplinary officers will talk with them and require them to review their mistakes at intra-Party conferences.

The disciplinary inspections will be increasingly strict, the communique said, and problems concerning formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance discovered during the inspection will be seriously investigated.

The communique also stressed easing public access to supervision of officials.

It called for strictly punishing those involved in corruption that undermines the most direct interests of the people, and strengthening the integrity of the Party's grassroots organs.

Outstanding problems such as forceful seizure, extorting bribes and embezzlement, as well as corruption and extravagance in poverty relief work, will be the focus of the campaign.

The communique vowed to build a "loyal, clean and responsible team of discipline and inspection staff" who are loyal to the Party and trusted by the people.

It urged disciplinary officers to assist local CPC committees in leadership transfer, so that appointed officials are clean. Enditem