Chinese Premier Li Keqiang unveils more measures to tackle corruption

The Chinese government will decentralise authority, be more transparent and adopt a “zero tolerance” attitude to corruption this year as it deepens its fight against graft, reported state media, citing Premier Li Keqiang.

President Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping crackdown on corruption since taking power, warning that the problem is a threat to the Communist Party’s very survival.

The latest measures were laid out in a speech by Li on February 11, in a meeting on tackling corruption, but only published by state news agency Xinhua late on Sunday.

Li criticised the over-concentration of power by the central government and urged the institution of an open government “as the most effective way to accept supervision”.

“When the government controls too much, directly intervenes in micro-economic activities, it not only influences the ability of the market to play a decisive role in the allocation of resources, it also increases transaction costs and makes it easy for corruption to breed,” Li said.

In last year, the government recouped 400 billion yuan (HK$506 billion) during its investigations into corruption, Li said. More than 40,000 officials received disciplinary violations and 10,000 people have been fired, he said.