Chinese Premier Li Keqiang again blasts lazy officials as corrupt
Premier threatens to name and shame officials for being slack in carrying out policies
Premier Li Keqiang has again expressed his frustration with officials who ignore orders to reduce bureaucracy amid an economic slowdown, blasting them for being little better than the corrupt cadres the government is trying to root out.
Li has repeatedly slammed officials over the past year for being slack in implementing Beijing's policy directives as they kept their heads down to stay out of trouble amid President Xi Jinping's anti-graft drive.
In May, the government dispatched 11 investigation teams to 18 provinces and cities to ensure orders were followed, and their report was given to the State Council this week.
"This investigation was a shove in the back [for government departments]", Li told a council meeting. "The aim is to vigorously enforce policy implementation."
While some examples of good practices were found, many problems were also uncovered, including unused funds and land left idle.
"Holding down a job without doing a stroke of work and accomplishing nothing is a typical example of official corruption, and these officials should be held responsible," Li said.