1st Ld: No sand in the eyes: China's top graft-buster vows strengthened discipline

China's top graft-buster Wang Qishan has vowed to further tighten the screw of regulations in the fight against corruption in 2016.

Wang's remarks, part of his speech at the sixth plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on Jan. 12, was made public on Sunday.

As the new rules on clean governance and the disciplinary regulation have taken effect, party organizations must defend and implement them in a manner like "the eyes tolerate no sand", said Wang, head of CCDI.

He said an intra-party supervision regulation, which was formulated in 2003, should be revised to summarize the experience of the CPC governing itself since the 18th National Congress of the CPC.

The relevant administrative supervision law, which monitors government officials, will also be revised, he added.

Further underlining the significance of CPC's responsibility, Wang said an intra-party accountability regulation will be formulated to hold accountable those who have poorly implemented party policies, who have neglected their duty in managing the party, who have selected and promoted the wrong officials and who have failed to detect problems in the party.

Chinese leaders often highlight the role of regulations in the sweeping anti-corruption drive. President Xi Jinping has vowed to "fasten the cage of regulations" to curb corruption.

The new disciplinary regulation, which even lists playing golf as an violation, is deemed to be the strictest in party history.

Wang vowed to continue high pressure on corruption, with its intensity and pace unchanged in 2016.

Inspection work will be deepened, with the aim of covering all central Party and government organs, said Wang, adding inspection tours should be carried out in more innovative ways.

The eight-point anti-extravagance rules should be continuously upheld as extravagant activities have gone underground and become more difficult to uncover, said Wang.

Citing a zero-tolerance approach, Wang said those who try to avoid investigation, who frequent private clubs and organize covert parties must be punished heavily.

Three kinds of people, he said, should be the priority target of anti-graft efforts to prevent corrupt officials from being promoted, which includes those who have not restrained themselves after the 18th National Congress of the CPC, those who have serious problems and caused strong opposition among the public and leading officials who may be promoted to important positions.

Wang also called for greater efforts to pursue corrupt fugitive and recover stolen assets as part of upgraded international cooperation against corruption.

Underlining an anti-corruption sideline meeting of the Group of 20 summit, Wang said China must strengthen its law enforcement cooperation in fighting corruption with the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia.

He also urged efforts to get rid of malpractices and corruption at grass-roots levels, where public have more direct feelings about corruption.

In line with a communique released after the sixth plenary session, Wang 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. Endi