He Yong, deputy head of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s
disciplinary watchdog, on Thursday ordered governments at various
levels to continue to combat commercial bribery.
He, deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for
Discipline Inspection, said local governments should have a strong
sense of responsibility and urgency in removing corruption from
business dealings.
Addressing a workshop attended by officials in charge of
commercial bribery fight in seven major Chinese cities, he said the
fight against commercial bribery is a crucial part of the country's
anti-corruption campaign, which is of great importance to solving
some outstanding problems appearing in the process of the country's
development.
Officials from Beijing, Tianjian, Shanghai, Chongqing, Dalian,
Ningbo, and Shenzhen briefed He on their anti-graft efforts at the
meeting.
On Wednesday, He visited the General Administration of Industry
and Commerce to supervise its efforts to head off commercial
bribery.
He said administrations of industry and commerce at each level
shoulder an "important responsibility" to maintain market order and
business operations, and face a "difficult task" in the national
fight against commercial bribery.
"Once they are found to be involved in such bribery, people or
organizations should be prosecuted in good time and be disciplined
with severe punishments," he told staff of the administration.
He demanded tighter surveillance over businesses in areas such
as food, medicine and medical instruments.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2006)