BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has vowed to standardize a more impartial and honest system for promotion of officials.
New norms of political life in the Party were adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. The full text of the document was released Wednesday.
The CPC will tackle corruption in its promotion system, putting an end to the buying and selling of official posts and vote rigging, according to the rules highlighted in the document.
Requesting an official post, honor or special treatment is not allowed under any circumstances. The rules mandate that officials to be promoted are those who are trusted by the Party organization and able to convince the public and fellow officials.
Qualified officials should be diligent, clean, honest and steadfast in belief, dedicated to serving the people and pragmatic in their work.
"The role of Party organizations as examiners should be strengthened in promotions," the rules read, adding supervision of promotions should be tightened to ensure all the procedures are standardized.
"Those who commit errors or neglect their supervisory duties in promotions should be held accountable," the rules state, stressing that bargaining with Party organizations or disobeying decisions by Party organizations is forbidden.
"No one should be allowed to consider Party officials as their private property," the provisions read, adding there should be no "personal favors" within the Party.
"The tendency of a small number of people promoting officials from a limited number of candidates must be stemmed," the rules read.
PERFORMANCE AND EXPERIENCE COUNT
The CPC is aiming for a corruption-free promotion system, which demands strict standards to minimize interference, said Xin Ming, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
The rules also underscore the CPC's adherence to its merit-based promotion system, according to Xin.
CPC officials need to be outstanding in many fields if they desire promotion.
Every position held by an official should be a stepping stone as the CPC highlights practical experience in promotions, said Xin. "These stepping stones are by no means symbolic."
For example, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, boasted a well-rounded political career and developed a deep understanding of the conditions of his country and people before he was elected to the top position.
Xi worked for decades in various locations, including Shanghai, the provinces of Shaanxi, Hebei, Fujian and Zhejiang, and served in the army.
"Performance and experience, rather than speaking tours, play a vital role in promotions of CPC officials," Xin Ming said.
According to Xin, unlike elections of government officials who work for capitalists and consortiums in some Western countries, the CPC demands officials to adhere to the doctrine of serving the people wholeheartedly, which is stated in the Party Constitution.
Observers said the features of the CPC's promotion system also include the practice of bottom-up election and top-down approval.
According to the CPC regulation governing promotion, the masses will be invited to recommend candidates and Party organizations will examine candidates before making appointments.
SIGNIFICANT FOR CENTENARY GOALS
Liu Dongchao, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, said the rules would "result in a better intra-Party political life," tackling inappropriate elements in the existing system, including favoritism and cliques.
A clean and convincing promotion system is vital for China to build an "all-round moderately prosperous society" for the CPC centennial in 2021, and for it to become a "modern socialist country" in time for the PRC centennial in 2049, according to Xin Ming.
"Leading officials, especially senior ones, play a decisive role in realizing the two centennial goals," said Xin, adding that a corrupt senior official could lead a group of subordinate officials astray, while a reliable and competent official should be a source of encouragement.
Liu said the rules revealed the CPC is capable of promptly responding to and coping with problems that undermine its cause.
