BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) — On the morning of the 8th, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China. He emphasized that, thanks to ten years of unwavering and vigorous anti-corruption efforts in the new era, the fight against corruption has achieved an overwhelming victory and been comprehensively consolidated; however, the situation remains grave and complex. We must maintain a clear understanding of the new developments and trends in the anti-corruption campaign, as well as of the underlying causes and conditions that give rise to corruption, and, with the steadfastness and determination to remain on the journey, press ahead with precision and sustained effort to resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.

Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and Ding Xuexiang, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. Li Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, presided over the meeting.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2023 marks the inaugural year for fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The CPC Central Committee has unswervingly advanced the Party’s self-revolution, launched in-depth thematic education across the Party on studying and applying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, steadfastly used the Party’s innovative theories to forge unity and strengthen ideological cohesion, worked to make political oversight more concrete, precise, and routine, tackled prominent problems of formalism and bureaucratism, resolutely purged those who undermine the Party’s integrity within its ranks, and strengthened management and oversight of Party members and cadres with strictness and pragmatism. These efforts have propelled the comprehensive and rigorous governance of the Party to greater depths, ensured the thorough and faithful implementation of the decisions and arrangements made at the 20th National Congress, and provided strong guidance and guarantees for a solid start to the new journey.

Xi Jinping emphasized that, as the world’s largest Marxist ruling party, how can our Party successfully break free from the historical cycle of chaos and prosperity, decline and revival, and ensure that it never changes its nature, its color, or its essence? This is a strategic question confronting all members of the Party. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in the course of advancing the great undertaking of comprehensively strengthening Party self‑discipline, we have continuously engaged in practical exploration and theoretical reflection. Building on Comrade Mao Zedong’s original answer—“let the people supervise the government”—we have put forward a second answer: to constantly advance the Party’s self‑revolution. Over the past decade of the new era, through both practice and theoretical inquiry in the pursuit of comprehensive Party self‑discipline, we have deepened our understanding of the Party’s self‑revolution, accumulated rich practical experience, and produced a series of important theoretical achievements. These have systematically addressed major questions such as why the Party must undertake self‑revolution, why it is capable of doing so, and how to advance it.

Xi Jinping pointed out that, in the process of deepening the Party’s self-revolution, it is essential to grasp nine key issues: taking the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee as the fundamental guarantee; pursuing the great social revolution as the ultimate goal; adhering to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding principle; setting the strategic objective of breaking free from the historical cycle; focusing on addressing the unique challenges faced by a large party; using the improvement of the system for exercising full and rigorous Party self‑discipline as an effective approach; making the strengthening of Party organizations and the building of a highly competent cadre team priority areas; employing the rectification of conduct, strict discipline, and anti‑corruption efforts as crucial levers; and harnessing the combined force of self‑supervision and public oversight as a powerful driving force. It is imperative to uphold emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and upholding fundamental principles while fostering innovation, continuously engaging in practical exploration and theoretical innovation, deepening our understanding of the underlying laws governing the Party’s self‑revolution, refining and tightening the strategies and measures for this endeavor, and ensuring that self‑revolution is pursued concretely and thoroughly across every front and at every stage.

Xi Jinping emphasized that, in the new journey of the fight against corruption, sustained and in-depth efforts must be made to eradicate the underlying conditions and root causes that give rise to corruption. The overarching requirement is to uphold a holistic approach that deters corruption, prevents it from taking hold, and fosters an aversion to it; to deepen both symptomatic and root‑cause remedies and adopt systemic governance; to continuously expand the scope and depth of anti-corruption efforts; to tailor measures to specific problems, apply targeted interventions, and employ a multipronged strategy; so as to gradually reduce long‑standing, recurring issues and make emerging problems harder to spread, thereby ensuring that the prevention and treatment of corruption become routine and sustainable.

Xi Jinping pointed out that it is essential to strengthen the Party’s centralized and unified leadership over the fight against corruption. Party committees at all levels must earnestly reinforce their oversight of the entire anti-corruption process, resolutely support the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, and take decisive, no‑holds‑barred measures to ensure thorough rectification of identified problems. As specialized bodies, the Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission must assume their responsibilities more proactively, providing strong and effective assistance to Party committees in organizing and coordinating anti-corruption efforts, and integrating resources across the entire anti-corruption chain. All functional departments should uphold efficient coordination and consciously translate the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements on combating corruption into concrete actions.

Xi Jinping emphasized the need to maintain an unwavering high-pressure stance on combating corruption. In the face of a still grave and complex situation, the fight against corruption must never falter, slacken, or show leniency; the charge must be sounded without ceasing. We must keep a close watch on the “seven types of problems,” make the rigorous punishment of corruption involving collusion between government and business a top priority in our decisive battles, resolutely crack down on profit‑seeking activities by capital that rely on political power, and firmly prevent all interest groups and powerful cliques from infiltrating the political sphere. We will deepen efforts to root out corruption in sectors where power is concentrated, funds are abundant, and resources are rich—such as finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure projects—and eliminate underlying risks and hidden dangers. We will also punish petty corruption and small‑scale graft, ensuring that the people gain a greater sense of fulfillment.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we must deepen reform to stem the breeding and spread of corruption. At its core, corruption is the abuse of power. We must focus on key powers—such as policy formulation, decision-making, and approval and oversight—and, by concentrating on priority areas, advance institutional and systemic reforms. We should accelerate the development of governance mechanisms in emerging fields, improve checks and balances on the allocation and exercise of power, further close regulatory loopholes, standardize discretionary authority, and reduce opportunities for rent‑seeking and rent‑creation. Moreover, we need to establish a coordinated mechanism for early warning and punishment of corruption, strengthen dynamic monitoring of integrity risks and potential hazards, and enhance our capacity to swiftly address new forms of corruption and covert corruption.

Xi Jinping emphasized the need to further improve the legal and institutional framework for combating corruption. He called for refining foundational laws and regulations that integrate efforts to ensure officials dare not, cannot, and do not engage in corruption, while also strengthening supporting mechanisms for oversight of “leading officials” and leading teams. He urged continued advancement of national anti-corruption legislation, timely amendments to the Supervision Law, and, taking the study and implementation of the newly revised Regulations on Disciplinary Actions as an opportunity, the launch of a comprehensive campaign of disciplinary education across the Party. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of intensifying supervision and inspection of the implementation of key laws and systems to ensure their consistent adherence and enforcement.

Xi Jinping pointed out that efforts to punish bribery must be intensified. Those who repeatedly entice officials into wrongdoing and harm the local community should be rigorously investigated and prosecuted, with typical cases publicly disclosed to set a clear example and deter others. Furthermore, measures to recover and rectify the illicit gains obtained through bribery must be strengthened.

Xi Jinping emphasized the need to persistently purify the political environment. We must simultaneously combat corruption and promote integrity, strictly enforce political discipline and norms, conduct Party life in a rigorous and principled manner, dismantle “unwritten rules,” establish clear and transparent regulations, resolutely prevent the formation of “small cliques,” “factions,” or “networks of influence,” and vigorously crack down on all kinds of political fraudsters. We must also rigorously guard against importing the principles of commodity exchange into Party affairs. Furthermore, we should unremittingly address unhealthy practices in personnel selection and appointment, foster clean and upright relationships among comrades and proper, well‑regulated relations between superiors and subordinates, and ensure that our political ecosystem remains pure and vibrant.

Xi Jinping pointed out that it is essential to strengthen the development of a culture of integrity in the new era. We must carry out in-depth education on Party spirit, Party conduct, and Party discipline, inherit the Party’s glorious traditions and fine style, and inspire Communist Party members to pursue lofty ideals, regarding seeking personal gain through power and engaging in corruption as acts of profound shame. Attention should be paid to family values, family education, and family traditions, and leading cadres must be urged to exercise strict oversight over their relatives and children. Furthermore, we should actively promote the concept of integrity and highlight exemplary figures who uphold廉洁, thereby fostering a positive social atmosphere that honors integrity and rejects corruption.

Xi Jinping emphasized that disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are a vital force in advancing the Party’s self-revolution, bearing special political responsibilities and a glorious mission. They must always remain absolutely loyal, absolutely reliable, and absolutely clean. It is essential to consolidate and expand the achievements of the education and rectification campaign, further strengthening political loyalty, and ensuring that at all times and under all circumstances we stand in unison with the CPC Central Committee, translating the enhancement of the “Four Consciousnesses,” the firm bolstering of the “Four Confidences,” and the resolute upholding of the “Two Safeguards” into concrete actions that heed the Party’s command and fulfill our duties to the Party. We must uphold principles, courageously draw the sword, dare to fight and fight skillfully, assume responsibility and perform our duties conscientiously, and unswervingly enforce integrity, discipline, and anti-corruption efforts, driving the comprehensive and rigorous governance of the Party to greater depths. We must strengthen the ranks of disciplinary inspection and supervision cadres, regularly purge those who undermine the cause, resolutely prevent and address problems of corruption and misconduct within the ranks, and strive to set an example in self-revolution and serve as a model of compliance with rules and discipline, thus forging an iron‑clad contingent of disciplinary inspection and supervision officials that earns the trust of the CPC Central Committee and wins the satisfaction of the people.

While presiding over the meeting, Li Xi pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech summarized the new progress and achievements in exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party, profoundly expounded the Party’s crucial thought on self‑revolution, and provided scientifically sound answers to major questions—why our Party must undertake self‑revolution, why it is capable of doing so, and how to advance it. The speech also set forth clear practical requirements under the “nine ‘with’” framework and laid out a strategic plan for sustaining momentum and deepening the fight against corruption. With its far‑sighted vision, broad perspective, profound thinking, and rich substance, the speech serves as the fundamental guiding principle for advancing, in the new era and on the new journey, the comprehensive and rigorous governance of the Party, the building of a clean and honest government, and the struggle against corruption. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech and his key ideas on the Party’s self‑revolution, firmly uphold the “two establishments,” resolutely safeguard the “two safeguards,” and press ahead with the comprehensive and rigorous governance of the Party and its self‑revolution, thereby providing strong guarantees for advancing national rejuvenation and building a modern socialist country through Chinese‑style modernization.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, relevant leading officials of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, State Councilors, the President of the Supreme People’s Court, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, relevant leading officials of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, as well as members of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting.

Members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, principal officials of various departments of the CPC Central Committee and state organs, heads of relevant people’s organizations, and leading officials of relevant military units attended the meeting. The meeting was held via videoconference, with sub-venues established in all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and relevant military units.

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China opened in Beijing on January 8. The session was chaired by the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. On the afternoon of the 8th, Li Xi, on behalf of the Standing Committee, delivered a work report titled “Deeply Studying and Implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution, and Further Advancing High-Quality Development of Discipline Inspection and Supervision Work in the New Journey.” (Xinhua)