BEIJING, Dec. 19 -- A total of 47 senior officials from 35 departments and units under China's State Council made a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony on Friday.

The officials were recently appointed to their incumbent posts.

The ceremony was overseen by Premier Li Qiang, who called on the officials to closely follow the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in thinking, political stance, and action, and implement the decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee with a higher standard.

Li also urged them to foster the right view on performance evaluation, strive to promote high-quality development, improve their capacity to overcome difficulties, and be innovative in their thinking.

The officials were also asked to preserve their integrity, safeguard the authority of China's Constitution, and exercise their duties in accordance with the law.