Xi Jinping: "Complex Governance Environment... Party Cadres' Self-Reform and Integrity Are Crucial"

Marking the 104th Anniversary of the Party's Founding
Emphasizing Anti-Corruption Stance
Demonstrating Robust Health Amid Speculation

Chinese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, reiterated his commitment to strengthening internal party discipline and anti-corruption measures on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the party's founding.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency on July 1, President Xi delivered his remarks during a group study session of the CPC Central Political Bureau held the previous day. After extending greetings to party members nationwide for the July 1st Party Founding Day, he stated, "Self-reform is the second answer for our party to break free from the historical cycle of rise and fall (the first answer being supervision by the people's government)." He added, "To advance the party's self-reform, we must raise awareness, strengthen party character, and standardize the exercise of power."

President Xi emphasized, "No matter what position our party members hold or what tasks they undertake, they must bear responsibility for self-reform, and leading cadres should set an example in this regard."

He further stated, "In selecting and utilizing talent, we must strengthen evaluations of party character and focus on examining the discipline, loyalty, and integrity of cadres." He continued, "In anti-corruption efforts, the exercise of power must be standardized. We need to unify the control of power, delegation, and operation, and establish transparent and traceable mechanisms to identify and address loopholes in the exercise of power."

Additionally, at the Central Political Bureau meeting chaired by President Xi the previous day, it was stated, "Completing the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over major undertakings is an important institutional measure to guide the implementation of major tasks." The statement continued, "Coordination bodies must clearly understand their roles and positions and provide more effective integration and coordination in the implementation of major undertakings."

President Xi's remarks came amid some foreign media raising speculation about his health. Previously, Gregory Slayton, former U.S. Ambassador to Bermuda with deep knowledge of Chinese affairs, addressed rumors of President Xi's possible ouster in an opinion piece, stating, "Due to poor health, Xi Jinping may retire or retain only a nominal position at the fourth plenary session of the Party Central Committee in August."

State-run China Central Television (CCTV) confirmed President Xi's well-being by broadcasting footage of him personally presiding over the group study session.