Press conference on guiding principles from fifth plenary session of 20th CPC Central Committee

China Daily:

One of the speakers just mentioned that the resolution adopted at this plenary session calls for steadfastly following a distinctive Chinese path of anti-corruption. How should we understand what this path entails? How can we steadfastly follow it? Thank you.

Wang Gang:

I'd like to invite Mr. Zhang to answer your questions.

Zhang Fuhai:

Thank you for your questions. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, driven by a sense of mission to "offend a few thousand rather than fail 1.4 billion people," has led the entire Party in an unprecedented fight against corruption. With unparalleled intensity and widely recognized results, this fight has safeguarded the Party's advanced nature and integrity, eliminated serious hidden dangers within the Party, the country and the military, and ensured that the Party never changes its nature, its conviction or its character. It has provided strong safeguards for building a great country and advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection that our Party has successfully charted a distinctive Chinese path of anti-corruption under the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, addressing both the symptoms and root causes and taking integrated steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to commit corruption. This statement profoundly explains what the distinctive Chinese path of anti-corruption entails.

First, upholding the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee. The fight against corruption is an extremely complex and arduous major struggle that requires strong and effective leadership, thorough and meticulous planning and arrangements, and unified and coordinated action. It would be absolutely impossible without the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee. The fundamental reason the fight against corruption in the new era has achieved historic success lies in the strong and effective leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. This is the most fundamental guarantee for continuously advancing the fight against corruption in depth.

Second, addressing both the symptoms and root causes. The fight against corruption in the new era has always addressed both the symptoms and root causes through a holistic approach, clearing away the "blue-green algae" and dredging out the "silt." Addressing the symptoms creates conditions for tackling the root causes, while tackling the root causes consolidates the results of addressing the symptoms. The two approaches work in tandem, are organically integrated and complement each other. At the current stage, the two have been interconnected and integrated through coordinated action to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to commit corruption.

Third, taking integrated steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to commit corruption. These three elements form an organic whole, are mutually interwoven and serve as conditions for one another. Only by advancing them in a coordinated manner can both the symptoms and root causes be addressed. Over the years, we have continuously intensified our efforts, maintaining strong deterrence so that officials do not have the audacity to be corrupt, enhancing oversight and checks so that they do not have the opportunity to be corrupt, and deepening integrity education so that they do not have the desire to be corrupt. We have also improved institutions and mechanisms and leveraged technology to promote coordinated action, steadily enhancing the overall effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

The distinctive Chinese path of anti-corruption is a profound summary of the experience behind the historic achievements made in the fight against corruption in the new era, as well as a guide to action for waging the tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption. In accordance with the arrangements made at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, we will always uphold the CPC Central Committee's centralized, unified leadership over anti-corruption work, place greater emphasis on taking systematic steps to address both the symptoms and root causes, and adopt a holistic approach that combines severe punishment, targeted remedy and effective prevention. With the tenacity and resolve that a never-ending fight demands, we will continue to eradicate the soil and conditions that breed corruption and resolutely win this major struggle, which we cannot afford to lose and must never lose. Thank you.

Wang Gang:

Thank you to all our speakers and journalists. This concludes today's press conference. Thank you.

Translated and edited by Xu Xiaoxuan, Liu Sitong, Gong Yingchun, Li Xiao, Chen Xinyan, Lin Liyao, Fan Dongni, Wang Yanfang, Cui Can, Zhang Jiaqi, Zhang Junmian, Yuan Fang, Wang Wei, Huang Shan, Zhou Jing, Li Huiru, Liu Qiang, Zhang Lulu, Wang Qian, Guo Xiaohong, David Ball, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.