The 18-month long inner-party education campaign launched by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2005 was fruitful, Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong has said.

Zeng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during his recent inspection tour in northern Hebei Province ahead of the 85th founding anniversary of the CPC.

The central authorities of the party initiated an education campaign among the 70 million CPC members in January 2005, urging them to maintain the vanguard nature of the communist party by keeping pace with the times, resisting corruption and meeting people's demands.

"On the whole, the education campaign has helped heighten party members' political consciousness and reinforce the party's grass-root organs," Zeng said.

The education, which took serving the people and improving party members' everyday work as its very aim, was a "satisfying campaign" to the masses, he said.

He urged local CPC committees across the country to consolidate and expand the achievements of the education campaign.

Zeng also warned CPC committees at all levels not to relax their anti-corruption efforts.

July 1 marks the 85th founding anniversary of the CPC. The party is expected to hold a high-profile commemoration to observe the day.

During his tour, Zeng also called for efforts to improve the capacity of innovation of Chinese companies and speed up development of rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2006)