Outdated laws must be replaced, say experts

By Zhang Yan (China Daily)

Updated: 2015-03-10

Deputies of the National People's Congress and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have called for the faster introduction of anti-corruption legislation to tackle the problem at the roots.

Chen Xu, an NPC deputy and prosecutor-general at the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate, said the laws covering corruption and bribery are outdated and ineffective. "It's essential that legislators draw up specific laws to combat this problem," he said.

According to Niu Dun, a CPPCC member and former vice-minister of agriculture, new laws are needed to regulate officials and provide a legal basis for the eradication of corruption: "The premise behind the fight is the correct supervision of officials via guidelines that will prevent the abuse of power."

President Xi Jinping has also proposed tough measures, warning that victory in the fight against graft is essential for the survival of the Chinese Communist Party.

In recent years, acceleration of the legislative process has become a hot topic among delegates at the annual two sessions, and a large number submit motions proposing laws aimed at specific forms of corruption every year.

At a key meeting of the CPC Central Committee in October, the central leadership decided to support the acceleration of legislation and improve the mechanisms to eliminate corruption.

In February, the Supreme People's Procuratorate announced that it would actively promote anti-corruption legislation.

"To restrict the power of officials, the priority must be to enact specific laws that offer a 'protective legal umbrella' for counter-corruption measures," said Wang Rulin, an NPC deputy and Party chief of Shanxi province.