The Eight Rules
These Eight Rules for improving work practices and building closer ties with the people were issued at a Political Bureau meeting on December 4, 2012. They cover the following main areas:
–doing better research and analysis and truly understanding actual conditions when doing grassroots-level studies;
–streamlining meetings and improving the way meetings are conducted;
–making documents and briefing papers more concise and improving writing styles;
–standardizing procedures for working visits abroad;
–improving security guard work and continuing to observe the principle of doing what improves relations with the people;
–improving news report;
–having strict rules on the publication of articles; and
–promoting frugality and the strict observance of rules on incorruptibility in government.
These eight rules are neither the highest standards, nor are they the ultimate ones. They are only the first step in the CPC's efforts to improve its practices – the minimum expected of Party members. Xi Jinping stated that, "Leading officials at all levels must lead by example and serve as role models, they must do as they say and live up to their promises. Within the Politburo, I will start with myself." Following the release of the eight rules, a series of measures on work practices are being issued.
八项规定
是指中共中央政治局2012年12月4日召开会议确定的关于改进工作作风、密切联系群众的八项规定。主要内容是：改进调查研究，到基层调研要深入了解真实情况；精简会议活动，切实改进会风；要精简文件简报，切实改进文风；规范出访活动；改进警卫工作，坚持有利于联系群众的原则；改进新闻报道；严格文稿发表；厉行勤俭节约，严格遵守廉洁从政有关规定。八项规定既不是最高标准，更不是最终目的，只是中共改进作风的第一步，是共产党人应该做到的基本要求。习近平要求，“各级领导干部要以身作则、率先垂范，说到的就要做到，承诺的就要兑现，中央政治局同志从我本人做起。”八项规定之后，一系列关于作风建设的措施陆续出台。