Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech at a grand gathering to celebrate the Party's 90th anniversary on July 1, 2011.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) will intensify its efforts to combat corruption, which is crucial in gaining popular support for the Party and ensuring its very survival, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said Friday. [More about Hu's speech]

"If not effectively curbed, corruption will cost the Party the trust and support of the people," said Hu, Chinese president, in a keynote speech at a grand gathering marking the 90th founding anniversary of the CPC.

The Party is soberly aware of the gravity and danger of corruption, he said.

The whole Party must remain vigilant against corruption, be fully aware that fighting corruption will be "a protracted, complicated and arduous battle," and give higher priority to combating corruption and upholding integrity, Hu said.

He called on leading officials to bear in mind that power is entrusted by the people and can only be used in their interests. "We must not turn our power into an instrument for making personal gains for a handful of individuals."

The Party is now faced with many new developments, problems, and challenges. It is confronted with growing danger of lacking in drive, incompetence, divorce from the people, lacking in initiative, and corruption, Hu said.

It has thus become even more important and urgent than ever before for the Party to police itself and impose strict discipline on its members, he said.

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