125,000 Party members punished for flouting rules, taking bribes

The top anti-graft body announced that about 125,000 members of the Communist Party of China had been disciplined for breaking austerity rules and taking bribes between late 2012 and the end of July.

During a frank dialogue with parties from all over the world, the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection revealed that the functionaries, most of whom are disgraced officials, were involved in 94,000 cases.

The Party and World Dialogue 2015, held in Beijing from Tuesday to Friday, for the first time invited party leaders from foreign countries to discuss how to combat corruption in China.

In front of more than 80 delegates from political parties as well as diplomatic and academic sectors, Wang Jiarui, head of the CPC's international department, said the Party has ruled the country since 1949 and he noted the fact that any party's ruling without an opposition party for such a long term is likely to breed corruption.

"It's been 90 years since the CPC was founded in China, and it is not easy to keep bureaucracy away from the Party," he said. "The solution is self-discipline and self-innovation, which has worked in the Party's fight against corruption."

A nationwide campaign against corruption was administered after the 18th plenary meeting of the Party and the "eight point rules" - which aimed to reduce pharisaism, bureaucracy, extravagance, and undesirable work practices - were first introduced on Dec 4, 2012.

In 2014, 71,000 officials were subject to disciplinary penalties for breaking the rules among the 85 million Party members.

As the campaign gathers steam, authorities reinforced efforts to ensnare suspected corrupt officials who have fled to other countries. A list of 100 officials and others wanted on suspicion of corruption who are believed to have fled abroad was issued last year as methods for chasing down corrupt officials become more innovative.

Huang Shuxian, deputy head of the top anti-graft body, disclosed at the dialogue that 10 of the suspects on the list have been brought back.

Wang Qishan, head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, met with delegates from the dialogue on Wednesday. During the meeting, he pledged to exercise stricter disciplinary measures in the Party and expressed the Party's determination to clamp down on corruption.

zhangyi@chinadaily.com.cn