Chinese leaders hail nationwide manhunt achievements

Chinese President Hu Jintao has praised a high-profile nationwide hunt for fugitives between May and December last year, labeling it a significant move in bolstering social stability and guarding the rights and interests of the public.

Hu made the remarks in a recent written instruction, which also echoed views from Premier Wen Jiabao and another senior leader He Guoqiang, according to an official statement released Friday on the campaign, which ran for more than 200 days and brought closure to more than 45,000 lingering cases.

Zhou Yongkang, secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Friday also urged police organs to use their experience from the manhunt to better serve social stability and economic development.

Addressing an audience of more than 700 for a lecture celebrating the work of police officers in the campaign, Zhou stressed that police should respond to calls from the public in battling illegalities.

China will continue its fight against crimes that damage public security, namely offenses involving mafia mobs, serious violence, property infringement, phone fraud and unsafe food production and distribution, according to Zhou.

He said police should make greater efforts to vanquish loopholes in their work to maintain social order and further the drive toward a harmonious police-citizen relationship.

The core values of "loyalty, for the people, fairness and honesty" should be widely promoted across police ranks, Zhou said, urging police officers to improve political awareness and discerning ability, and maintain a high level of political unity with the Party Central Committee with Hu as the general secretary.