China's eight-point rules for work conduct hailed

The eight-point rules on improving work conduct have not only strengthened the internal vitality and public credibility of the Communist Party of China, but also offered valuable experience for countries in the Global South seeking to build modern governance systems aligned with their own national conditions, experts said.

The eight-point decision was adopted by the Party leadership in December 2012. It is a set of rules designed to improve Party conduct and curb bureaucracy, extravagance, and corruption.

In 2025, the CPC launched a Party-wide education campaign to implement the code on improving work conduct. During the campaign, CPC members studied and implemented the guiding principles of the code, with prominent rule violations being addressed.

Hind Khlaifat, an expert on media from the United Arab Emirates and general manager of Deraya Speakers in Abu Dhabi, said China's anti-corruption efforts represent a significant attempt to tackle corruption at both the systemic and behavioral levels.

"The eight-point code is notable not only for targeting overt corruption, but also for addressing the culture and practices that can give rise to it. By stressing the need to eliminate formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, the CPC aims to guide officials' conduct long before minor misconduct develops into criminal corruption," she said.

Khlaifat said this approach also aligns with China's broader goal of modernizing national governance. "Modern governance calls for transparency, accountability and efficiency."

Such efforts help build public confidence and support China's aim of building a clean and service-oriented government, she added.

Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, dean of the College of Local Administration at Khon Kaen University in Thailand, said the eight-point code embodies both moral renewal and institutional discipline, revitalizing the CPC's internal strength.

The implementation of the code has helped strengthen internal order by curbing formalism, bureaucratism and extravagance. It has also improved the Party's public image, as people now see concrete efforts to connect with the masses and practice its long-standing "serve the people" ethos, he said.

He further said the rules have strengthened the Party's leadership by boosting administrative efficiency and moral credibility. They have cut ceremonial waste and laid an important foundation for broader anti-corruption reforms.

"China's model of governance underscores how culture shapes political behavior and institutional reform. The Communist Party of China's internal discipline and integrity-building experience offer useful lessons for others," he said.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, said the eight-point regulation has also demonstrated that the CPC can maintain its governing vitality through sustained institutional building, a capability that remains rare on the global stage.

He said the introduction of the code also offers valuable lessons for the Global South, particularly for the ruling parties. It underscores that governing a party and a country should not depend on "imported systems" from the West.

"Instead, effective modernization requires drawing on a nation's own history, cultural traditions and the public needs to build a governance model suited to its unique conditions," he added.

As a party committed to self-reform, the CPC offers a compelling example of how to continually regulate the exercise of power, safeguard the interests of the people and strengthen its governance capacity, he said.

Khlaifat from the UAE said China's experience could also offer a useful reference for other countries.

"While political systems vary widely, certain elements, such as early prevention, clear rules of conduct and consistent enforcement, have broad relevance. Many nations may draw insights from China's emphasis on internal discipline, long-term mechanisms and strong political resolve," she said.

liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn