Hu Jintao warns graft threatens existence of party and nation

General Secretary Hu Jintao yesterday warned his ruling Communist Party that corruption threatens its very existence, and that of the nation itself, in his opening address to a congress that will formally decide the mainland's next leaders.

In a speech to more than 2,000 delegates, Hu said that all those who violated party discipline and state laws "must be brought to justice without mercy", regardless of their seniority in the hierarchy.

"Combating corruption and promoting political integrity, which is a major political issue of great concern to the people, is a clear-cut and long-term political commitment of the party," Hu said. "If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state."

The once-a-decade leadership transition, which will see Vice-President Xi Jinping succeed Hu as party chief next week and as state president next March, has been complicated by the downfall of former Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai , who faces criminal prosecution over bribery and other corruption charges.

The scandal has rocked the party and the nation, especially as Bo's wife Gu Kailai and his former right-hand man, Wang Lijun , were jailed in connection with the murder of a British businessman in Chongqing last November, triggering questions about just how deep corruption runs in the mainland's inner political circle.

"[Leading officials] should exercise strict self-discipline and strengthen education and supervision of their family and staff and they should never seek any privilege," Hu said. "We must maintain a tough position in cracking down on corruption at all times."