Beijing, Dec 5 (IANS): No red carpet, no welcome banner, no flower arrangement, short meetings with no empty talk... These are just some of the directives for the newly-elected leadership of China's ruling party that has pledged to reject extravagance and reduce bureaucratic visits and meetings.
In a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Tuesday, senior officials agreed that there should be "no welcome banner, no red carpet, no floral arrangement or grand receptions for officials' visits", reported Xinhua.
"The spending on officials' trips and inspections should be kept at the minimum necessary level," according to a statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting, presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, was held less than three weeks after the 18th CPC national congress.
It also promised to reject the practices of extravagance, formalism and bureaucracy.
Tuesday's meeting adopted a document making clear requirements on how Political Bureau members should improve their work style in eight aspects, according to the statement.
"There should be fewer traffic controls arranged for the leaders' security of their trips to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public, and inspection tours as a mere formality should be strictly prohibited," the statement said.
Political Bureau members are not allowed to attend all sorts of ribbon-cutting or cornerstone laying ceremonies, as well as celebrations and seminars, unless they get approval from the CPC Central Committee, according to the statement.
Officials' visits abroad should only be arranged when needed in terms of foreign affairs with fewer accompanying members, and on most of the occasions, there is no need for a reception by overseas Chinese people, institutions and students at the airport.
According to the statement, all members of the Political Bureau are urged to understand the real situation facing society through in-depth inspections at grassroots.
It was also agreed at the meeting to strictly regulate the arrangements of national official meetings and major events, improve the efficiency of official conferences and issuing of official documents.
Official meetings should get shortened and be specific and to the point, with no empty talks.
The meeting underscores the exemplary role of officials, especially high-ranking officials, in improving the Party's work style.
"The Political Bureau members should implement the dos before asking others to do so," the statement said.
It also asked the senior officials to keep a frugal lifestyle and strictly comply to regulations on housing and vehicles.
The meeting demands Party organisations and officials at all levels to implement the eight requirements.
Xie Zhiqiang with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee believed that the new requirements are another move of a series of exemplary conducts taken by the CPC's new top leadership in improving the party's work style.
"The eight requirements are feasible and targeted," Xie said. "They will help leaders turn rhetoric of improving work style into practice."
Two members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee recently asked officials not to read their prepared reports at meetings to save time in order to speak about more concrete contents.