Xi: Shake off GDP obsession in promoting officials

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping Saturday noted that China would never assess the performance of an official simply based on his record of boosting economy.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) should adopt more comprehensive criteria for assessing the performance of its officials, said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, at a meeting on the work of personnel resources on the eve of the 92nd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

It should consider a local official's work in various aspects including people's livelihood, the development of local society and the quality of environment.

"We should never judge a cadre simply by the growth of gross domestic product (GDP)," he said.

When promoting officials, the CPC organization departments should consider integrity as a priority and then capability, he said.

"The Party's cadres should be firm followers of Communist ideal, true believers of Marxism and devoted fighters for the socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

They must serve the people heart and soul, exercise their power carefully and resist corruption, he said.

A CPC official's integrity will not grow with the years of service and promotion of his post but with persistent efforts to discipline himself and study Marxist classics and theories of the socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said.

To select and promote good officials, the Party needs an efficient and reasonable system, Xi said.

More efforts should be made to improve the transparency of promotion and promote an upright style in the recommendation and assessment of officials, he said, adding that the promotion of officials should not be decided by simple headcount of votes.

The President also stressed the training and promotion of young Party officials and pledged that more opportunities will be offered to young promising candidates.

Xi urged to punish disciplinary violations and corruption during official selection procedures.

Buying and selling official positions as well as canvassing must be punished without any appeasement, Xi said.

Organization departments across the country should stick to justice and honesty, which is the leading principle for improving their work styles, said Xi.