context: This meeting was held amidst rumours that recent events in Hefei might be the result of unchecked corruption, even after successive years of an anti-graft crusade across departments, agencies and other arms of power.
State Council held the third ‘Clean Government’ working conference on 23 July, with Politburo Standing Committee member and State Premier Li Keqiang 李克强 noting that while political construction and anti-corruption work has deepened, some problems and deficiencies remain. Li noted that in response to unprecedented risks and challenges, governments at all levels should
- resolutely implement Central Committee and State Council directives and reinforce rectification of the atmosphere and of discipline
- strengthen pursuit of truth and pragmatism
- achieve governance for the people
- do a solid job in ‘six stabilities’ work and implementing the ‘six protections’ as tests of the government's ability and work style
- make it a disciplinary requirement to ensure smooth flow of government orders
Li also stressed the need to
- bolster supervision and discipline
- strengthen supervision over use of funds
- improve relief policy implementation
- strictly implement special transfer payment mechanism, to ensure new funds find their way to targets
- remember that reform not only reduces corruption, but the risk thereof ensure governments at all levels are thrifty, and fully support employment, livelihood and market forces
Li stated that economic and social development work must be carried out honestly. Government functionaries at all levels should grow accustomed to performing their duties under supervision and restraint, being honest in those duties, and working diligently and conscientiously for the people.
State Council vice premiers Han Zheng 韩正, Sun Chunlan 孙春兰 and Hu Chunhua 胡春华, as well as State Councillors Wang Yong 王勇, Wang Yi 王毅 and Zhao Kezhi 赵克志 attended; State Councillor Xiao Jie 肖捷 presided. Ministry of Finance and Hunan government representatives spoke at the meeting.