Nation bans extravagance, bureaucracy

Welcome ceremonies, flowers, banners and booze - once lavish fixtures of Chinese officials - have all been banned under tough new restrictions to stamp out corruption.

The Party's ruling authority has ordered senior officials to reject "extravagance, formalism and bureaucracy" in a list of eight new requirements released at the end of last year.

The move is aimed at improving the Party's working style and to appear more connected to the people. The list was swiftly followed by each provincial or regional government releasing their own plans to improve the Party's image and change the reputation of officials abusing power.

Some have ordered leaders to eat in staff canteens, others ruled meals last no longer than 45 minutes. Trips overseas have been curtailed, relatives warned, police motorcades and road blocks prohibited. Here, we offer a regional breakdown of what each area is doing to answer the call to tackle corruption.

Beijing

Authorities in Beijing have vowed to improve by reducing the number of meetings, reducing paper waste, shortening traffic control during officials' visits, and exercise frugal spending.

Head of Beijing Guo Jinlong said municipal officials will firmly carry out 15 rules, focusing on cutting official inspections. meetings and improving news reporting. The city vows to make great progress in three aspects: simplifying receptions, improving the quality of news reports, enhancing inspections and surveys to solve problems.

Shanghai

Shanghai has urged municipal leaders to improve research and inspection at grassroots level, cut unnecessary meetings, regulate activities related to foreign affairs, and make news reports on the local government and the Party more efficient in a bid to win the trust and support from the people.

"We must implement the new rules. If we only talk the talk, we will harvest the opposite result and incur aversion from the people," said Han Zheng, Party chief of Shanghai municipal Party committee.