Retirees.jpg (Photo : SCMP)
On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a national conference in Beijing to honor retired officials and organizations, made a point of stressing their continued importance to the process of nation-building, "calling them valuable assets for both the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the country."
In his remarks, Xi said that he is hoping that the veteran cadres would continue to keep their "intrinsic political qualities" to help promote the Party's traditions. By remaining true to the Party's traditional core values, they can still continue to contribute to the "country's rejuvenation."
The president encouraged retired officials to make use of their experience and prestige to promote the Party's "core socialist values." He said that efforts should be made to "organize and guide them to tell the stories of China, promote the Chinese spirit, and spread voices of China."
Xi said that more publicity highlighting their achievements is needed in order "to create a sound social environment built on a foundation of respect, care and learning from the older generation."
According to the president, surveys conducted by the CPC Central Committee Organization Department over the past two years show that retired officials generally spoke highly of the policies adopted by the CPC leadership. They also revealed that the veteran officials firmly support the CPC's present leadership and its ongoing anti-graft drive. The survey results prove that the retired officials support the Party and are devoted to what it is now undertaking.
Xi has been actively pursuing a campaign to rid the country's bureaucracy and big businesses of graft and corruption since he took over the ruling Communist Party in Nov. 2012.
About 30 senior officials at the provincial and ministerial level or above have already been put under investigation as of June 30, according to a previous Xinhua account.
Xi has also embarked on a series of reforms aimed at discouraging unnecessary and ostentatious consumption of luxury goods.
Senior Chinese leaders Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli were also in attendance during Wednesday's conference. A total of 450 retired officials and 150 organizations were conferred honors at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
