Wu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the call at a group discussion of the Shandong Delegation to the ongoing first session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) Wednesday afternoon.

Wu said the important thought of "Three Represents", established as a guiding principle of the CPC by the 16th CPC National Congress in November last year, should also serve as a guide to the drive of improving the CPC members' conduct and building a clean government.

He said that greater efforts have to be made to fight corruption and mete out severe punishments on whoever daring to take the law in their own hands, irrespective of their positions.

He also stressed the necessity to curb unhealthy tendencies in certain departments and sectors.

The senior Party official said that it was necessary to start with institutional innovation to prevent and control corruption at the roots. For this purpose, he noted, it is necessary to step up reform of the administrative approval system, the financial management system and the personnel management system so as to create a mechanism that will help officials wield their power well, control the financial resources effectively and using people appropriately.

He also stressed the necessity to establish a good power operation system, subjecting officials, especially leading officials, to supervision and restriction in wielding their powers.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2003)