Party rules trim benefits of leaders, promote frugality

The ruling Communist Party of China rolled out measures on Wednesday to regulate benefits enjoyed by Party and State leaders to further cut privileges and promote frugality.

Detailed requirements have been made on the housing, vehicle use, transportation, entourage and vacation arrangements of these leaders, according to a statement released after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the top decision-making body.

Leaders are required to strictly regulate their family members and staff, to cut their vacation time spent outside Beijing and to strictly follow the rules on the use of business vehicles. Retired leaders should return their offices in a timely fashion, the statement said.

In China, Party and State leaders include leading officials of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the top court and procuratorate, as well as the country's top legislature and top political advisory body.

The meeting, presided by President Xi Jinping, required members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to take the lead in following the rules, and other senior officials should follow suit, according to the statement.

Wu Hui, associate professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said the new measures reflect the leadership's determination to push forward strict Party governance. "These new rules can be viewed as a deepened and expanded version of the eight-point rules," he said.

The eight-point rules were issued by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in December 2012, about one month after the new Party leadership was elected, to reduce bureaucracy, extravagance and undesirable work practices of Party members.

Wu said the eight-point rules cover all Party members, but the new measures specifically target State-level officials, including retired ones.

"The latest rules, which are very practical, have responded to some public concerns and will be effective in promoting strict Party governance."

Contact the writers at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn