context: The anti-corruption campaign created significant passive resistance to reform during Xi's first term, as officials opted for non-action to avoid catching the attention of corruption busters. To ease the problem, new guidelines put more emphasis on performance outcomes, while reassuring officials of the space to make mistakes.
The CCP Central Committee issued a list of expectations for Party officials in the new era on 21 May 2018. Keys to being a model official, according to the document, include being
- daring, efficient, accountable and action-oriented
- loyal to the party
- decisive in handling big and complicated issues, responsible in carrying out daily routine work
- serving as a model for lower-level cadres
Meanwhile, the cadre promotion system should
- have realistic criteria, and discourage cadres from making lofty promises
- discourage formalism and bureaucratism
- encourage officials who take responsibility for their actions, be tolerant of mistakes resulting from bold experimentation
- punish malignant accusers and rectify the name of wronged officials
- strengthen cadres' professional training, connect theory to practice
- encourage grassroots innovation