President Jiang Zemin has urged Xiamen cadres to adopt a forward-looking attitude in comments widely interpreted as indicating the Government is eager to wrap up the smuggling case.
Mr Jiang made the remark during a whirlwind visit to Shenzhen on November 14, the Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po reported yesterday.
'Don't be dispirited, and learn the lesson,' Mr Jiang was quoted as telling Xiamen senior cadres when he attended the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. 'You have to educate the cadres and tell them to pull themselves together.'
Mr Jiang's remark was made public at a three-day party plenum, which opened on Thursday in Xiamen city, according to a source at the meeting.
Xiamen party boss Hong Yongshi, in a speech carried by mainland media, urged Xiamen cadres to 'study intently Comrade Jiang Zemin's speech at the 20th anniversary of Shenzhen'.