The Eight Rules

these Eight Rules for improving work practices and building closer ties with the people were issued at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on December 4, 2012. They cover the following main areas:

Doing better research and analysis and truly understanding actual conditions when doing grassroots-level studies;

Streamlining meetings and improving the way meetings are conducted; Making documents and briefing papers more concise and improving writing styles;

Standardizing procedures for working visits abroad;

Improving security guard work and continuing to observe the principle of doing what improves relations with the people;

Improving news report;

Having strict rules on the publication of articles; and

Promoting frugality and the strict observance of rules on incorruptibility in government.

These Eight Rules are neither the highest standards, nor the ultimate ones.

They are only the first step in the CPC’S efforts to improve its practices - the minimum expected of Party members. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stated that, “Leading officials at all levels must lead by example and serve as role models; they must do as they say and live up to their promises. Within the Political Bureau, I will start with myself.” Following the release of the Eight Rules, a series of measures on work practices have been issued.