President Hu Jintao on Sunday emphasized that the Chinese government is fully committed to fighting corruption and is working vigorously for its eradication.
Hu made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the First Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) lasting until October 26.
"We treat the fight against corruption as a priority and a pressing task that has great influence on the overall development of the country, the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, equality, justice and social harmony and stability," said Hu.
China's strategy in building a clean government is to address both the symptoms and the root cause, and combine punitive and preventative measures, focusing on prevention, Hu said.
"In this way, we can take measures to prevent corruption, including investigation, prosecution, trial and conviction, and punish criminals severely for corruption," he said.
At the same time, China will continue to improve its overall anti-corruption system, giving equal importance to education, mechanism building and supervision, he said.
"We are stepping up efforts to improve the rule of law and to create a culture of a clean and honest government, while strengthening the supervision of power," he said.
Hu said China is endeavoring to stop corruption at all levels through reform, by eliminating the breeding grounds for corruption and developing an effective anti-corruption mechanism that will include public participation.
"To achieve economic and social development, it is necessary to promote a clean government, combat corruption and create a good social environment of equality, justice, incorruptibility, harmony and stability," he said, adding "this is also important for world peace and development."
The Chinese government attaches great importance to anti-corruption cooperation with other countries and international organizations, he said.
"Enhancing international anti-corruption cooperation will enable all countries to punish and prevent corruption more effectively," Hu said.
"It will also help achieve the common aspiration of the whole world to have clean and honest governments."
"We maintain that countries should respect each other's sovereignty and that they should enhance practical anti-corruption cooperation while respecting the different national conditions," said Hu.
The president said that thanks to unrelenting efforts, China has made remarkable achievements in fighting corruption and that "we will continue unswervingly with anti-corruption campaigns to realize, protect and advance the fundamental interests of the Chinese people."
Hu said that China, a principal participant in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, is now in the process of drafting, amending and improving relevant domestic laws and regulations to meet the requirements of the convention.
"The Chinese government will shoulder earnestly international responsibilities it accepted under the convention," Hu said.
"The founding of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities will, on the basis of respect for political and legal systems of the countries concerned and historical and cultural backgrounds, help develop a cooperation mechanism featuring mutual trust and strengthen practical anti-corruption cooperation among all countries," he said.
Centering on the theme of strengthening international cooperation for effective implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption, the meeting will enable delegates to share their experiences on international anti-corruption cooperation and establish a direct cooperative mechanism for the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
The UN Convention Against Corruption, adopted at the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in 2003, recognized an international consensus to fight corruption as part of international law.
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2006)
