Chinese leaders vow to fight bureaucracy

BEIJING - The newly-elected leadership of China's ruling party has pledged to reject extravagance and reduce bureaucratic visits and meetings, in a bid to win the trust and support from the people.

In a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Tuesday, senior officials agreed that there should be "no welcome banner, no red carpet, no floral arrangement or grand receptions for officials' visits."

"The spending on officials' trips and inspections should be kept at the minimum necessary level," according to a statement issued after the meeting.

The meeting, presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, was held less than three weeks after the 18th CPC national congress.

The CPC vowed at the keynote congress to "always work hard and practice economy." It also promised to reject the practices of extravagance, formalism and bureaucracy.

Tuesday's meeting adopted a document making explicit requirements on how Political Bureau members should improve their work style in eight aspects, according to the statement.

"There should be fewer traffic controls arranged for the leaders' security of their trips to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public, and inspection tours as a mere formality should be strictly prohibited," the statement says.

Political Bureau members are not allowed to attend all sorts of ribbon-cutting or cornerstone laying ceremonies, as well as celebrations and seminars, unless they get approval from the CPC Central Committee, according to the statement.

Officials' visits abroad should only be arranged when needed in terms of foreign affairs with fewer accompanying members, and on most of the occasions, there is no need for a reception by overseas Chinese people, institutions and students at the airport.

According to the statement, all members of the Political Bureau are urged to understand the real situation facing society through in-depth inspections at grassroots.

Senior leaders should listen more to the public and officials at grassroots levels, and solve people's practical problems, the statement says.

It was also agreed at the meeting to strictly regulate the arrangements of national official meetings and major events, improve the efficiency of official conferences and issuing of official documents.

Official meetings should get shortened and be specific and to the point, with no empty and rigmarole talks. Official documents without substantial contents and realistic importance should be withheld, the statement says.

There should be less news reporting on the attendance by Political Bureau members to meetings and activities, and such reports shall depend on work needs, news value and social effects.

Publications regarding seniors officials' work and activities are also restricted.