Party will collapse if corruption not curtailed: Hu Jintao

The Chinese Communist Party Congress that will undertake the once in a decade leadership change opened here today with the outgoing President Hu Jintao issuing a stark warning against corruption in the party ranks which he said could prove fatal and may lead to its collapse.

In his work report outlining the decade long achievement of the party under his leadership, Hu said the Party must make unremitting efforts to combat corruption, promote integrity and stay vigilant against degeneration.

Hu said combating corruption and promoting political integrity, which is a major political issue of great concern to the people, is a clear-cut and long-term political commitment of the Party.

"If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the Party, and even cause the collapse of the Party and the fall of the state," Hu warned in his 41 page keynote report to the Congress attended by 2,270 delegates chosen from all over country.

Hu said the CPC must maintain a tough position in cracking down on corruption at all times, conduct thorough investigations into major corruption cases and work hard to resolve problems of corruption that directly affect the people.

"All those who violate Party discipline and state laws, whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have, must be brought to justice without mercy," he said.

He asked leading officials of the Party to exercise strict self-discipline and strengthen supervision over their families and staff.

"Leading officials at all levels, especially high-ranking officials, must readily observe the code of conduct on clean governance and report all important matters," Hu said.

Hu also said that no one is allowed to place oneself above the Party organisation, apparently referring to disgraced Party leader Bo Xilai who faced a host of charges including sex, sleaze and corruption besides shielding his wife Gu Kailai from investigations into her role in the murder of Briton, Neil Heywood.

ALSO READ

Texting while driving?

Violence grips Bangladesh as Islamists demand stricter blasphemy law

David Cameron warned: 'Shed elitist image'

Prince William may give up his role as search and rescue pilot after becoming father