CPC congress to highlight anti-corruption

BEIJING - The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will make overall arrangements on the fight against corruption, Cai Mingzhao, spokesman for the congress, said Wednesday.

Cai made the remarks in response to a question on anti-corruption work following the cases of Bo Xilai and Liu Zhijun.

"The problems of Bo and Liu are serious corruption cases among leading cadres of the Party, and the lessons are profound," Cai said. The handling of the Bo and Liu cases showed the Party's strong resolve and distinct attitude against corruption.

Cai said the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC is drafting a working plan on punishing and preventing corruption between 2013 and 2017.

Bo was formerly secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The Political Bureau decided at a meeting on September 28 to deprive Bo of CPC membership and expel him from public service for severe disciplinary violations.

Investigations showed Bo had abused his power, made severe mistakes and borne major responsibility in an incident concerning former Chongqing Vice-Mayor Wang Lijun's entering, without permission, the US Consulate General in Chengdu, and an intentional homicide case involving Bogu Kailai, Bo's wife.

Bo was accused of taking advantage of his position to seek profits for others and received huge bribes personally or through his family.

Liu, former minister of railways, had been under investigation since February 2011, when he was removed from his government post on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations."

He was found to have used his position to seek huge illegal profits for business people, which caused great economic losses and negative social influence, according to the CCDI.

The CCDI also discovered Liu had taken massive bribes and bore the major responsibility for severe corruption in the railway system.

Liu was stripped of his CPC membership after he was found to be involved in corruption.