He Yong, deputy head of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s disciplinary watchdog, on Thursday ordered governments at various levels to continue to combat commercial bribery.

He, deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said local governments should have a strong sense of responsibility and urgency in removing corruption from business dealings.

Addressing a workshop attended by officials in charge of commercial bribery fight in seven major Chinese cities, he said the fight against commercial bribery is a crucial part of the country's anti-corruption campaign, which is of great importance to solving some outstanding problems appearing in the process of the country's development.

Officials from Beijing, Tianjian, Shanghai, Chongqing, Dalian, Ningbo, and Shenzhen briefed He on their anti-graft efforts at the meeting.

On Wednesday, He visited the General Administration of Industry and Commerce to supervise its efforts to head off commercial bribery.

He said administrations of industry and commerce at each level shoulder an "important responsibility" to maintain market order and business operations, and face a "difficult task" in the national fight against commercial bribery.

"Once they are found to be involved in such bribery, people or organizations should be prosecuted in good time and be disciplined with severe punishments," he told staff of the administration.

He demanded tighter surveillance over businesses in areas such as food, medicine and medical instruments.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2006)