Premier Li calls for sustained, harder efforts against corruption

Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called for sustained and harder efforts to fight corruption, improve Party conduct and build a clean government.

Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at a State Council meeting on clean governance in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a State Council meeting on clean governance.

He demanded governments at all levels to firmly push forward both development and anti-corruption work, noting that the anti-graft campaign had remarkably boosted social and economic development.

Tax cuts should be carried out in a larger scale, ensuring that tax burdens are significantly reduced in manufacturing industries and lowered in construction and transport industries, Li said, stressing that the tax burden must not increase in other industries.

The premier required the full implementation of policies lowering firms' social insurance payment burdens. He said the payment burden of small and micro enterprises should not be raised.

Calling for a balanced budget, Li said unnecessary expenditure must be cut while spending on fields concerning people's livelihoods should be guaranteed.

He called on the government to pursue frugality, encourage thriftiness, refrain from extravagance and vigorously cut administrative expenses.

Governments should further streamline administration, supervise in a fairer and more just manner, optimize administrative services and continuously improve the business environment, Li said.

Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting.

Zhao Leji, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting on invitation.