Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Friday called for intensified anti-corruption efforts at the grand rally to mark the 85th founding anniversary of the CPC.

Hu, also Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on the nation's 70-plus million Party members to fully realize the strategic importance of anti-corruption efforts to maintain the vanguard character of CPC members, and never loosen the control against corruption even for a second.

Hu noted that there still exist some prominent problems that are not conforming with the vanguard character of the CPC, as some Party members do not stand firmly for their political belief, some do not strictly abide by the Party's disciplines, and some grassroots Party organizations are still weak in mechanism.

Corruption is still rampant in some fields, as cases of cadres abusing power for personal gains are frequently reported, Hu said.

Hu stressed the Party members should attach much attention, take effective measures and make painstaking efforts to combat corruption. And all Party members should fully realize that the campaign of maintaining vanguard character of the Party is a long-term task of historic importance.

Hu said the campaign of maintaining vanguard character of the CPC members is accompanied by the practice of enhancing the Party's administrative capability. The Party will further reform the selection of cadres, and make more open to the public the cadre selection. Selection of cadres should strictly follow relevant rules and procedures, and public will also be allowed to participate in and supervise over the cadre selection.

China will prevent and correct the wrong judgement on cadres, especially problems such as purchase and sell of power, and pulling strings to ask for promotion, Hu said.

Inner-party supervision on the Party's leadership and cadres should be strengthened, Hu said, adding the party should also welcome supervision from the top legislature, government, top advisory body, non-communist parties, legal departments, as well as media and the masses.

Hu called on all party members, especially cadres to follow the good tradition of the Party, and abide by the socialist morality of the so-called "Ba Rong Ba Chi"(Eight Honors and Disgraces).

"We should bear in mind the good deed that benefits people, step away from greedy desire that harms people, and self-consciously resist against money worship, pleasure-seeking and out-and-out egoism," he said.

"And we should always serve the people with down-to-earth and effective measures, and play a leading role in creating a sound and upright social atmosphere," he added.

Hu said anti-corruption work should more focus on prevention while strengthening penalty. A comprehensive mechanism should be established with education programs, laws and regulations as well as supervision, to solve prominent problems that harm ordinary people's interests.

"Cadres will receive severe penalty for power abusing, seeking for personal gains, taking bribery or dereliction of duty," Hu said, stressing that iron-face should be given to relevant cases.

Editor: Yan