The revival of the real CPC

As the mass-line educational campaign by the Communist Party of China (CPC) comes to an end, the outcomes of the campaign have been generally well received.

Xin Ming, of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, credits the campaign with giving the populace a chance to see what the real CPC should be like.

"Some people had mistaken the pervasive bad practices, hidden rules and corruption for the true colors of the CPC," said Xin.

Comparing the bad practices to "dust" enclosing a pearl, Xin said the campaign was the start of a thorough polishing, one which would bring out the true lustre of the pearl.

Mass-line refers to a guideline requiring CPC officials and members to put the interests of the people first and exercise power on their behalf.

This campaign began in June last year with the relationship between CPC officials and the general public clearly flagging. The main objective was cleaning up undesirable work styles by Party officials, principally the extravagant use of public funds for personal, hedonistic ends, seen as decadent at the very least and frequently verging on outright corruption and embezzlement. Pompous speeches, interminable pointless meetings, lavish banquets and parties at VIP clubs were all targets.

Focused on officials at or above county level, Party members examined their own conduct, laid their problems bare, analyzed the causes and made plans to set things right.

"The campaign improved the Party image among the ordinary people," Xin said. "With faith and hope, the people feel a new measure of support for the CPC."

Many Party members and officials have been punished in the last year and more than a dozen ministerial-level officials have found themselves in the crosshairs of the campaign.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 87.3 percent of people surveyed late last year claimed to have seen a change for the better in the practices of government officials, while 77.1 percent believed forceful measures had been taken to investigate and punish offending officials.