Chinese lawmakers urge amplified anti-corruption efforts to maintain social stability

While calling for severe punishment for those crooked officials who take advantage of their posts for personal gains, take bribes, and neglect their duties, lawmakers hailed Premier Wen Jiabao's proposal on Feb. 28 that public servants declare their assets as part of the country's anti-corruption campaign.

"We need to promote transparency of government affairs and also need to make public officials' assets," the premier said, "Only when power is restricted can corruption be prevented fundamentally."

Zhou Guangquan, an NPC deputy and a procurator in Beijing, said stepped-up anti-corruption efforts are key to China's economic development and its fight against the financial crisis.

"Corruption would add the cost of reform and development, and deprive people of their due interests, thus causing injustice and disputes in society," he said.

"It is essential that the country's prosecuting authorities take anti-corruption as their focus of work next year," he said.

Editor:Liu Anqi