Beijing, Dec 29 (IANS) China has probed over 69,200 cases of commercial bribery, involving 16.59 billion yuan (about $2.5 billion), from 2005 to 2009, and the anti-corruption efforts have ‘achieved results’, the country’s information office of state council said Wednesday.
In its first ever white paper on anti-corruption efforts, titled ‘China’s Efforts to Combat Corruption and Build a Clean Government’, the government said the efforts to combat corruption have ‘achieved results’.
The document said, from 2003 to 2009 prosecutors at all levels investigated over 240,000 cases of embezzlement, bribery, dereliction of duty and rights’ infringements.
Over 69,200 cases of commercial bribery, involving 16.59 billion yuan (about $2,5 billion), were also investigated from 2005 to 2009, the China Daily said.
In 2009, some 7,036 officials were held responsible for acts like making serious mistakes in decision making, breach of duty, and failing to manage and supervise subordinates, according to the document.
It quoted a National Bureau of Statistics survey as saying that 83.8 percent of Chinese thought corruption was reduced to some extent in 2010, up from 68.1 percent in 2003.
The document warned that the task of curbing corruption remains tough. China has undergone dramatic economic and social changes. The ideas and concepts of the people have evolved, leading to increased social conflicts, it said.
‘Since the relevant mechanisms and systems are still incomplete, corruption persists, some cases even involving huge sums of money,’ the document said. ‘Breaches of law and discipline tend to be more covert, intelligent and complicated.’
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government understand the ‘long-haul, complicated and arduous’ nature of anti-graft missions, the paper said.
‘They will resolutely punish and effectively prevent corruption with more resolutions and powerful measures,’ it added.
The document introduces principles, working mechanisms and legal framework for China’s anti-graft system. It also sets out the progress made in combating corruption and international anti-graft cooperation.
