国内英语新闻:Lower-level Chinese officials to conduct criticism

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese officials at and below the city and county level are required to conduct criticism and self-criticism sessions starting in late May, according to a circular released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) leading group of the "mass-line" campaign.

According to the circular made public on Sunday, CPC officials are ordered to identify their work-style related problems and participate in intra-Party sessions of criticism and self-criticism.

Criticism and self-criticism at intra-Party sessions, or democratic meetings, are part of the CPC's ongoing "mass line" campaign dedicated to removing undesirable work styles among officials and forging closer Party-people ties.

Launched in June 2013, the campaign has now entered its second phase, which is scheduled to run from January to September and target more low-level departments and leadership.

Heads of Party committees are required to take the lead in exposing their own shortcomings at intra-Party discussions, and all members of a Party committee must criticise one another while listing their own problems, the circular said.

Such discussions should last for no less than one-and-a-half days.

Also according to the circular, officials are expected to examine their own personal integrity, use of power, self discipline, and whether they work efficiently and can address the people's real needs.