国内英语新闻:Spotlight: Overseas experts laud China's anti-corruption gains

BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Overseas China watchers have lauded the country's anti-graft efforts, saying that Beijing has already achieved plenty in its crackdown while stressing the importance of international cooperation in fighting corruption.

China's top anti-graft body on Thursday issued a communique vowing to keep high pressure on graft and ensure inspection groups cover all state organs and institutions.

The communique was issued after the the sixth plenary session of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was held from Tuesday to Thursday.

According to the communique, the CPC will strengthen its discipline and improve its supervisory system this year, as well as deepen institutional reforms.

Chen Gang, senior research fellow with the East Asia Institute at the National University of Singapore, said that China has made obvious progress in enhancing party discipline and building a clean government.

With a decrease in spending on official vehicles as well as in holding banquets and travelling on public expenses, officials have improved their impression in the face of ordinary people, Chen said.

Yakov Berger, senior researcher with the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said Chinese leaders have been very determined, goal-oriented and relentless in eliminating the cancer of corruption, which has won plenty of respect and approval.

Kyrgyz political economy expert Mars Sariev said the CPC had made great achievements in anti-corruption thanks to its firm determination to curb graft and make government officials more honest in performing their duties, while reminding them to be social and moral models.

China's experience and efforts in fighting corruption have set an example for other countries, Sariev said.

Indonesian political analyst Bambang Suryono said the CPC's persistent anti-corruption efforts have not only helped the party establish a good image among the ordinary Chinese people, but also demonstrated China's major-country responsibility to promote international rule of law through participating in the global fight against corruption.

Anita Kiamba, faculty member at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Nairobi, said China's focus on anti-corruption has improved its international image and helped it play a bigger role in international affairs.

In the eyes of British China expert Martin Jacques, the "ferocity and scale" of China's anti-corruption campaign tells that China is determined to root out the problem.

"I think (the anti-corruption drive) is for real and it's big, and I think it will carry on," he said in an article published on his website.

"China is committed against this scourge. The prevention of corruption in China has taken a "zero tolerance" approach, French sinologist Pierre Picquart told Xinhua in a written response.

"Beijing will improve its legal framework and promote ethics and morality. As in the West, Chinese citizens also await the implementation of these decisions for a more just society and clean, impeccable governance, to fight against corruption," he said.

George N. Tzogopoulos, research fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, said China's anti-corruption campaign has sent the Chinese people a clear message -- the central government attaches importance to respect and equality and is determined to eradicate bribery.

But the influence of China's anti-graft policy extends beyond the social and political spheres and is closely linked to the "new normal" of China's economy, Tzogopoulos said.

James Laurenceson, economist and deputy director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, said dealing with corruption is particularly important now because "China's leadership has recognized (in) the next five years, this economy has to be driven by private sector-led innovation."

Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Singapore Nanyang Technological University, said that it is very important to keep strict party discipline at the grass-roots level, and so the government should call on more common people to take part in the anti-corruption campaign.

A lot of countries hope that China can succeed in chasing Chinese fugitives abroad and recovering the money or goods they took with them, Oh said. He said he hoped China can more actively participate in formulating related international law and enhance communication and cooperation with other countries.

Kuang Jinrong, president of Thai-China Cultural Industries Group Co., LTD, echoed Oh and said China has created a highly disciplined party and is focused on rooting out corruption across the country.