China's new Central Committee members urged to disclose assets

More than 1,000 lawyers, academics and professionals signed an open letter calling for newly chosen members of the Communist Party's Central Committee to publicly disclose their family assets to rein in corruption.

The letter, to be sent to the National People's Congress, argues that the 205 members of the powerful committee must reassure the public that they are doing only the people's business. Signatories said they were emboldened by new general secretary Xi Jinping's warning last month that corruption threatens the party's rule.

"In the face of a grave situation, we ask the officials to declare their assets from the top down in accordance with their seniority," the letter said.

"They control huge public resources and authorities, which has a bearing on the happiness and well being of 1.3 billion people," it said.

Sun Hanhui , a Beijing-based corporate legal adviser who co-authored the letter, said the letter and signatures would be sent to the NPC, the mainland's legislature, in time for its March meeting.

Public calls for disclosure of officials' assets - widely seen as a key first step in fighting corruption - have gained momentum in recent months amid a raft of scandals that have implicated several high-ranking officials, including former Poliburo member Bo Xilai.