The Communist Party of China (CPC) is vowing to put punishment and prevention on equal footing in its battle against official corruption.

He Guoqiang, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) head, said at a plenary session of the CCDI on Jan. 14 that the country would intensify its efforts in combating official corruption.

The full text from He's report delivered to the plenary session was released by Xinhua on Wednesday.

"The key to winning our war against official corruption is to put punishment and prevention on equal footing," He said. "We will place equal efforts in punishing crooked officials for their misconduct, as well as in establishing an anti-corruption system to get rid of corruption at its root."

He noted the CCDI was working on a five-year plan that would detail the Party's anti-corruption initiatives starting from 2008.

He said this year marked the 30th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up drive. It was also the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the CPC's discipline watchdogs and the year Beijing hosted the Olympics.Therefore, anti-corruption work was of greater significance than ever.

The watchdog head said the high intensity of the corruption fight would be kept up, especially with focus on cases involving leading officials.

In addition to punishment under the legal code, cadres behaving badly can expect additional punishment ranging from a warning to dismissal from their posts and expulsion from the Party.

He urged to step up anti-corruption education among Party members and to promote "upright officials loyal to the Party and the Chinese people, and those who dedicate themselves to solid work".

He added the Party would soon launch a series of supervisions and inspections to ensure decisions and policies made at last October's 17th CPC National Congress and the scientific outlook on development were carefully implemented.

Special efforts would be made to rectify malpractice in the fields of environmental protection, food and medicine safety, work safety and land appropriation, something which common citizens always pay great attention to and voice vehemently against.

Supervision would be intensified on the management of social security funds and the special fund for poverty and disaster relief.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)