Party watchdog's openness is helpful to anti-graft campaign

A book about Chinese president Xi Jinping's remarks on anti-corruption.[Photo/IC]

The central commission for discipline inspection, China's top anti-graft agency, held a news conference on Friday, which aroused much attention as it frankly answered some sensitive questions. Transparency is prerequisite in the anti-graft campaign, says The Beijing News:

Unlike some official bodies that avoid being open and talking about sensitive issues, the CCDI showed the utmost sincerity in its news conference on Friday, the first of its kind this year. Even after the adjournment of the meeting, it accepted interviews.

That's an innovative step towards governing transparency. Actually, such transparency will prevent rumors from spreading.

The CCDI is also holding an increasingly rational attitude. On being asked whether the anti-graft campaign has had a negative effect upon economic growth, they answered in a rational way.

The CCDI's progress in being more transparent is not only the result of its own efforts. It has much to do with its awareness that the anti-graft campaign needs public support.

A look back at the past two years shows that it has not only done a good job in the fight against corruption, but also gained the public's trust. There used to be many questions that reporters were not supposed ask; now the CDDI seems increasingly willing to answer the questions raised.

It should be noted that the questions considered sensitive seldom involve State secrets. Their sensitiveness comes from the unwillingness on the part of officials to face reality and their fear of talking improperly. That mentality needs to change.

The transparency of the CCDI is helping strengthen public confidence in and support for its anti-graft efforts, because they can sense the determination of the top leadership to root out corruption. It is time other authorities followed the CDDI's example.