July 1993 Beijing observed the 72nd birthday of the Chinese Communist Party with a pledge to curb corruption , deemed the nation's most serious problem. March 1994 Communist Party boss Jiang Zemin called for renewed efforts to combat corruption and said the battle against graft could not be won overnight. May 1995 A reformist leader proposed new ways to prevent the secretaries and aides of leading politicians becoming involved in corruption. June 1996 Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily celebrated the party's 75th birthday with a call for younger blood and a purge of the corrupt, a sign of the policies that may define its 1997 congress. December 1997 President and party General Secretary Jiang Zemin vowed to take tough action against leading cadres who try to shield corrupt officials from punishment. July 1998 President Jiang Zemin ordered the People's Liberation Army to quit its sprawling business empire as the government seeks to end rampant smuggling and corruption. January 1999 President Jiang Zemin ordered an all-round purge of corrupt party cadres to prevent social unrest. September 2000 Courts in four cities began long-anticipated trials in China's biggest corruption scandal, a web of smuggling and kickback cases that allegedly reached into the ruling inner circle and caused rifts among mainland leaders. July 2001 President Jiang Zemin vowed to lead the Communist Party's "life-and-death" fight against corruption , but an outspoken critic said his speech failed to break new ground. November 2002 "If we don't crack down on corruption, the flesh and blood ties between the party and people will suffer and the party will be in danger of losing its ruling position, or possibly heading for self-destruction." - President Jiang Zemin said in a speech at the 16th Communist Party Congress October 2003 The minister of land and resources was reportedly suspended for alleged corruption, in the most significant scandal in the central government since President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao took office in March. July 2004 The Chinese Communist Party marked its 83rd anniversary with President Hu Jintao stressing the need for a capable and clean ruling party. December 2005 Communist Party leaders pledged to continue the battle against graft next year with special emphasis on corruption in the business sector and more help for farmers. July 2006 President Hu Jintao called for intensified efforts to eliminate corruption within the Communist Party as he warned that widespread ills were undermining its authority, following a spate of graft cases involving top officials. July 2007 Former Shanghai party secretary Chen Liangyu would be prosecuted in the nation's highest-level corruption case in more than a decade following a 10-month investigation. January 2008 The Communist Party's graft watchdog ordered tougher measures against corruption and poor discipline, setting out specific targets as it wrapped up a three-day plenary session. July 2009 Hu Jintao said Communist Party members should be encouraged to supervise and make suggestions on all matters concerning intraparty democracy , including efforts to clamp down on corruption within the party. December 2010 In its first white paper documenting its fight against official corruption , Beijing vowed to strengthen efforts but acknowledged that the task of building a clean government is "complicated and arduous". January 2011 President Hu Jintao pledged that the Communist Party would fight against corruption with more forceful and "people-oriented" measures amid growing social discontent, state media reported. January 2012 President Hu Jintao stressed the importance of maintaining the "purity" of the Communist Party , urging cadres yesterday to spare no efforts in cracking down on corruption amid leadership changes across the country, state media reported.