President Hu Jintao on Friday criticized some officials for their perfunctory work style, lax management and lack of a sense of responsibility, saying the Communist Party of China faces an unprecedented heavy task in building itself.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday addresses the opening ceremony of a seminar for the country's ministerial-level leaders in Beijing. [Xinhua]

He made the remark at a meeting attended by provincial and ministerial-level officials at the Central Party School, which discussed promotion of the scientific outlook on development -- a guiding principle for China's economic and social development -- among all Party members. All members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting.

"Some officials have ignored public opinion and turned a blind eye to people's hardships, and even major issues that concern the lives of the masses of people. We must learn a painful lesson from the recent accidents" that have caused great losses to people's lives and property, Hu said.

He was apparently referring to the recent mudslide in Xiangfen, Shanxi province, which killed nearly 270 people, and the milk contamination incident which has killed four children and caused urinary tract problems, including kidney stones, among more than 6,200 infants.

"Only when we strive to solve the pressing problems facing our officials and always put people first... can the Party lead the people to achieve a moderately well-off society," he said.

Hu calls to learn from latest security incidents

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday urged all the members of the Communist Party of China(CPC) to put people's interests first and learn the bitter lessons from the latest security incidents.

Addressing the opening ceremony of a seminar for the country's ministerial-level leaders in Beijing, Hu, also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said that the major accidents on work and food safety which occured in some places of the country this year had incurred severe losses of people's lives and property.

These accidents had indicated that some leaders lacked a sense of responsibility and had a loose governance, he said.

These accidents also showed some of the leaders paid no attention to people's problems and complaints and were insensitive to the problems which threaten people's life security, said Hu.

He urged all the leaders to fully understand the serious consequences of the accidents and learn the bitter lessons from the accidents.

Those accidents reminded us once again that only by solving the problems existing among the Party cadres ... and putting people's interests first, could the Party better lead the people towards the building of a well-off society, Hu said.

The President also urged more efforts from the leaders to realize and safeguard the fundamental interests of the people.

Leaders should strive hard to do practical and good things for the people and ensure that people benefit from the country's developing economy, he noted.

More efforts should be made to mobilize people to be involved in the cause of the country's scientific development, and leaders should collect people's ideas and listen to their opinions in the process, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily September 20, 2008)