The Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee has decided to put the agencies sent by the central discipline and supervision authorities to state organs under direct central control this year, in a move to strengthen supervision over leading officials.

The move was a significant measure to improve the Party's discipline inspection mechanism and enhance the Party's internal supervision, Wu Guanzheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said Wednesday at a conference on implementing this new supervision arrangement.

The conference was attended by officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Ministry of Supervision and other related departments.

Wu stressed the agencies should make intensified efforts to supervise leading officials in a bid to prevent power abuse, mistakes in decision making and breach of duty.

He also called on leading officials at various levels to consciously put themselves under the supervision and do a good job in building a clean government and fighting against corruption.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)