The fight against corruption is a long-term, complicated and arduous task, and the Communist Party of China (CPC) must push ahead with its anti-graft drive unswervingly, Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said in Beijing on Friday.

He made the remark during the sixth plenary session of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Hu, also president and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, said one of the priorities of the anti-corruption drive is to solve problems that have seriously harmed the interests of the public.

Severe punishments should be meted out for those who have violated Party rules in such ways as abuse of power, embezzlement of public funds, giving and receiving bribes, and dereliction of duty, Hu said.

Bribes involved in commercial transactions should be especially targeted to ensure that all such activities are fair and decent, he added.

To achieve that goal, Hu said, an educational campaign should be conducted among Party members so that they, and especially those in leading positions, can administer a clean government.

The system of supervision and prevention should be improved to eliminate any hint of corruption, he said.

(China Daily January 7, 2006)