China's Communist Party expands self-criticism drive
Heeding Xi Jinping's call, more regional leaders hold sessions to discuss performance, but some see effort as return to ineffective leftist practice
More regional governments have held "criticism and self-criticism" meetings following Xi Jinping's call for the sessions, but some analysts question whether the campaign will bolster discipline in the party.
The reflection sessions are part of Xi's "mass line" campaign - an effort to reconnect the party with the grass-roots and eliminate hedonism and extravagance among rank-and-file cadres.
Hunan party chiefs held a session over two days last week. In one meeting, provincial party boss Xu Shousheng told colleagues, "In order to make statistics look good, I sometimes signed off on reports I was presented without thoroughly checking their accuracy," Hunan TV quoted Xu as saying.
Governor Du Jiahao admitted to not interacting enough with low-level officials since taking up the post in April.
At work briefings, Du said he "sometimes looked impatient and sounded subjective and even interrupted without letting [others] finish".
The province's standing committee had solicited suggestions from 103,000 cadres and ordinary residents for the session, Hunan TV said.