(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-30 18:10

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is calling for strengthening the corruption fight and promoting a clean government in an article to be published on Thursday.

In the article outlining the anti-corruption work for the year, Wen, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stresses that efforts should focus on upholding integrity, supervision of power and clean and honest governance.

In the article in the "Seeking Truth", a journal of the Party's theoretical study, he concludes the country's anti-corruption work over the past five years.

Wen said the country has intensified correction of unhealthy social practices and exerted great efforts to resolve problems that harm the interest of the public, greatly promoted governance according to law and seriously dealt with irregularities and commercial bribery so as to root out corruption.

Wen called for serious penalties toward corruption, especially those involving government officials.

"Collusion between officials and business, trade between power and money, power and sex, and cases seriously infringing upon public interest should receive heavy punishment," he said.

Commercial bribery cases involving civil servants and leaders of state enterprises, public and financial institutions accepting and sending bribes by abusing power would be seriously handled in line with the law.

Effective measures will be adopted to strike commercial bribery activities on the Chinese mainland organized by overseas economic organizations, Wen added.

He ordered leaders of various departments to "strictly comply with self-discipline rules and uphold integrity".

Special government campaigns would be launched this year to deal with overseas sightseeing tours funded by public money and construction of luxurious buildings.

He highlighted the importance of a scientific and democratic decision-making process. "Policies regarding the immediate interest of the masses should be made by soliciting public opinions or holding hearings so as to enhance public participation and receive public supervision."

Governance transparency should be further improved to safeguard the public rights to knowledge, participation, expression and supervision, he said.