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Beijing -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday emphasized that the Chinese
government is fully committed to fighting corruption and is working vigorously
to prevent it from happening.
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) which will last till 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 its source through reform,
eliminate the breeding ground for corruption and develop an effective
anti-corruption mechanism that people will support and participate in.
"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. "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 the unremitting efforts, China has made
remarkable achievements in fighting corruption and in the years to come, "we
will continue unswervingly with anti-corruption campaigns to realize, protect
and advance the fundamental interests of the Chinese people."
Hu said that China, one of the main participants 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 the delegates to share their experiences on international
anti-corruption cooperation and establish a direct cooperation 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, as part of international law, an
international consensus to fight corruption.
