Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 8. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese President, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech on the morning of January 8 at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China. He emphasized that after a decade of persistent and vigorous anti-corruption efforts in the new era, the fight against corruption has achieved an overwhelming victory and has been comprehensively consolidated. However, the situation remains severe and complex. We must maintain a clear understanding of the new developments and trends in the anti-corruption struggle, as well as the underlying causes and conditions that give rise to corruption. With unwavering determination and perseverance, we must focus our efforts precisely and continuously to resolutely win the tough and protracted battle against corruption.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Li Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 2023 marks the first year for implementing the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress in all respects. The CPC Central Committee has remained committed to exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, launched an education campaign on the study and implementation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era throughout the Party, and worked to see that the Party’s new theories are used to motivate the people and inspire their commitment to the Party’s cause. Efforts have been made to make political oversight more concrete, targeted, and regular, and to address pointless formalities and bureaucratism. The Party has taken firm action to rid its ranks of bad apples, tightened management of and oversight over Party members and officials, and advanced full and rigorous Party self-governance to see that the decisions and plans made at the 20th CPC National Congress are fully and faithfully implemented. All this has helped ensure a good start to the new journey ahead.

Xi Jinping stressed that as the world’s largest Marxist ruling party, how can our Party succeed in breaking out of the historical cycle of rise and fall and ensure that it will never change its nature, its conviction, or its character? This is a strategic question confronting all Party members. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in the great practice of exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, we have continued to explore and think theoretically. On the basis of Comrade Mao Zedong’s first answer to this question, “to supervise the government by relying on the people,” we have now provided a second answer, which is to constantly advance Party self-reform. In the ten years of the new era, we have deepened our understanding of Party self-reform through our practice and theoretical exploration of exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance. We have accumulated a wealth of practical experience and developed a series of important theoretical outcomes, which have provided systematic answers to such major questions as why our Party should carry out self-reform, why it is capable of doing so, and how to advance the cause.

Xi Jinping pointed out that in the practice of further advancing the Party's self-reform, it is essential to grasp nine key issues: upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee as the fundamental guarantee, advancing the great social revolution as the fundamental goal, following Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental guidance, breaking free from the historical cycle as the strategic objective, tackling the unique challenges of a major party as the main focus, improving the system of full and rigorous Party self-governance as the effective pathway, forging a strong organization and building a capable contingent as the key priorities, enforcing discipline and combating corruption as the major tasks, and combining self-supervision with public oversight as the driving force. It is imperative to uphold the principles of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and maintaining integrity while innovating. Continuous efforts should be made to explore practices and innovate theories, deepen the understanding of the laws governing the Party's self-reform, refine the strategies and measures for the Party's self-reform, and ensure concrete and in-depth implementation of self-reform across all fronts and at every stage.

Xi Jinping stressed that on the new journey, the fight against corruption must continue to exert efforts and advance deeper in eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption. The general requirement is to persist in advancing the integrated strategy of ensuring officials do not dare, cannot, and are not willing to be corrupt, deepen comprehensive measures to address both symptoms and root causes, systematically implement governance, continuously expand the depth and breadth of the anti-corruption campaign, apply targeted remedies, adopt precise measures, and take multiple steps simultaneously. This will gradually reduce recurring old problems, prevent new issues from spreading, and promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of preventing and addressing corruption.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the Party in the fight against corruption. Party committees at all levels should effectively strengthen leadership over the entire process of the fight against corruption, resolutely support the investigation and handling of corruption cases, and take tough actions to rectify problems. As the specialized agency, the discipline inspection commissions and supervision agencies should take a more proactive role in fulfilling their responsibilities, and provide strong and effective assistance to Party committees in organizing and coordinating anti-corruption efforts, integrating anti-corruption forces across the entire chain. All functional departments should adhere to efficient coordination and consciously translate the Party Central Committee's decisions and plans on anti-corruption into concrete actions.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to maintain a tough stance on combating corruption. Faced with a still severe and complex situation, there must be no turning back, no slackening, and no leniency in the fight against corruption; the charge must always be sounded. Continued focus must be placed on addressing the "seven problems," with cracking down on corruption involving collusion between government and business as the top priority in this tough battle. Resolute efforts are needed to curb profit-seeking behaviors backed by power and prevent various interest groups and power blocs from infiltrating the political sphere. Deepening the crackdown on corruption in sectors with concentrated power, capital, and resources—such as finance, state-owned enterprises, energy, healthcare, and infrastructure projects—is essential to eliminate risks and hidden dangers. The campaign against "flies and ants" corruption must be intensified to give the public a greater sense of gain.

Xi Jinping pointed out that efforts should be made to deepen reforms to curb the breeding and spread of corruption. The essence of corruption is the abuse of power. It is imperative to focus on key powers such as policy-making, decision-making, approval, and supervision, deepen institutional and structural reforms in key areas, accelerate the establishment of governance mechanisms for emerging sectors, improve the allocation and operational constraints of power, further plug institutional loopholes, standardize discretionary power, and reduce opportunities for rent-seeking. A coordinated mechanism for corruption early warning and punishment should be established, with enhanced dynamic monitoring of integrity risks and swift responses to new and hidden forms of corruption.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to further improve the legal framework against corruption. Efforts should be made to refine fundamental laws and regulations to advance the integrated implementation of the strategy to ensure officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to be corrupt, and to strengthen supporting systems for supervising "top officials" and leading groups. The country will continue to advance national legislation against corruption, update the supervision law in keeping with the times, and take the opportunity of studying and implementing the newly revised regulations on disciplinary sanctions to conduct a centralized discipline education campaign throughout the Party. Inspections and supervision should be strengthened to ensure the implementation of key laws and regulations in an integrated manner.

Xi Jinping pointed out the need to intensify punishment for bribery. It is imperative to rigorously investigate and punish those bribe-givers who persistently corrupt officials and harm communities, publicize typical cases to uphold justice and serve as a warning. Efforts should also be stepped up to recover and rectify illicit gains obtained through bribery.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to make persistent efforts to purify the political ecosystem. We must both remove the unwholesome and foster the wholesome, strictly observe political discipline and rules, take political activities within the Party seriously, break "hidden rules," and establish "explicit rules." We must resolutely prevent the formation of "small circles," "paying homage to the dock," and "erecting antennas," crack down hard on all kinds of political fraudsters, and strictly prevent the principle of commodity exchange from being brought into the Party. We must make unremitting efforts to rectify misconduct in the selection and appointment of personnel, promote clean and healthy comradely relations and proper relations between superiors and subordinates, and foster a clean and wholesome political ecosystem.

Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen integrity culture in the new era. Efforts should be made to enhance education on Party spirit, conduct and discipline, carry forward the Party's fine traditions and conduct, inspire lofty ideals and pursuits among Party members, and regard power abuse and corruption as a great disgrace. Greater importance should be attached to family education and family values, and officials should be urged to strictly discipline their relatives and children. Integrity concepts and role models should be actively promoted to foster a culture of integrity and rejection of corruption.

Xi Jinping stressed that discipline inspection and supervision agencies are a key force in advancing the Party's self-reform, bearing special political responsibilities and a glorious mission. They must always be absolutely loyal, reliable, and pure. It is imperative to consolidate and expand the achievements of the education and rectification campaign, further strengthen political loyalty, and remain of one heart and one mind with the Party Central Committee at all times and under all circumstances. The commitment to the "four consciousnesses," the "four-sphere confidence," and the "two upholds" must be translated into concrete actions of following the Party's commands and fulfilling responsibilities to the Party. We must uphold principles, demonstrate courage to confront challenges, and excel in the fight to fulfill our duties. We must remain unwavering in improving Party conduct, enforcing discipline, and combating corruption, and promote the full and rigorous governance of the Party to achieve further progress. Efforts should be made to strengthen the ranks of discipline inspection and supervision officials, regularly weed out the bad apples, and resolutely prevent "black sheep" within the ranks. We must strive to be role models of self-reform and exemplars of compliance with rules and discipline, forging an iron army of discipline inspection and supervision that satisfies the Party Central Committee and the people.

Li Xi pointed out while presiding over the meeting that the important speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized the new progress and achievements in exercising full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, profoundly expounded the important thought on the Party's self-reform, scientifically answered major questions such as why our Party needs to carry out self-reform, why it is capable of doing so, and how to advance it, clearly put forward the "nine commitments" as practical requirements, and made strategic plans for continued efforts to deepen the fight against corruption. The speech, which is forward-looking, broad in vision, profound in thought, and rich in content, serves as the fundamental guideline for advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, improving Party conduct, upholding integrity, and combating corruption on the new journey of the new era. We must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech and his important thought on the Party's self-reform, firmly uphold the "two establishments" and resolutely achieve the "two safeguards," deepen full and rigorous self-governance of the Party and the Party's self-reform, and provide strong guarantees for advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, leading officials of the National People's Congress, State Councilors, the President of the Supreme People's Court, the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, leading officials of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and members of the Central Military Commission attended the meeting.

Members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, leading officials from various departments of the Party and state organs and people's organizations, and leading officials from relevant military units attended the meeting. The meeting was held via video link, with sub-venues set up in provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and relevant military units.

The third plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China opened in Beijing on January 8. The Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection presided over the meeting. On the afternoon of the 8th, Li Xi, on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, delivered a work report titled "Deeply Study and Implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's Important Thoughts on the Party's Self-Reform, and Promote the High-Quality Development of Discipline Inspection and Supervision Work in the New Journey."