Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) visits Zhang Jingzhi (C), an 85-year-old senior villager, at Zhangzhuang Village in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
ZHENGZHOU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the country's village officials to make "spicy" efforts to "sweat" corruption out of their systems as he stressed the role of rural development in the rule of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
"The weapons of criticism and self-criticism should be well-wielded, with some spice to make every Party official blush and sweat a little," Xi said during an inspection in Lankao County in central China's Henan Province from Monday to Tuesday.
As part of the ongoing second round of a CPC campaign to deter malpractice and harmful work styles, each of the seven members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee is allocated a county to supervise its progress. Xi has been paired with Lankao.
During the campaign, Party officials are required to check and report their own problems and mistakes while summarizing the flaws of their colleagues to disciplinary supervisors.
Xi noted that rural areas are the foundation of the CPC's governance and are crucial to the Party's guidance and policies, demanding quality and competence from grassroots officials to boost rural development.
The president urged Party officials to "maintain a balance between kindness and principles" when handling connections, telling them to reduce unnecessary social activities and keep healthy work and life styles.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th L) talks with local cadres and villagers at Zhangzhuang Village in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with relatives of Jiao Yulu, the late hardworking Party secretary of Lankao County who devoted his life to improving the living standards of locals, and representatives of grass-roots cadres at the Jiao Yulu Memorial Hall in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Chinese President Xi Jinping talks with locals and working staff at the administration service hall in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (1st L) visits the Jiao Yulu Memorial Hall, which is devoted to Jiao Yulu, the late hardworking Party secretary of Lankao County who devoted his life to improving the living standards of locals, in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd R, back) talks with local cadres and villagers at Zhangzhuang Village in Lankao County, central China's Henan Province, March 17, 2014. Xi made an inspection tour in Lankao from March 17 to 18, directing the "mass line" educational campaign. The Communist Party of China (CPC) initiated the year-long campaign in June, 2013 to strengthen the "mass line", referring to a guideline under which the CPC is required to prioritize the interests of the people. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)