In a move to push the anti-corruption drive further, the country's first-ever national bureau on corruption prevention was inaugurated yesterday.

Marking a significant step forward in institution building, the high-profile organization will play a key role in the country's on-going war against corruption.

As explained by Qu Wanxiang, deputy chief of the bureau, the new organization is responsible for integrating all efforts by different government bodies, the business sector and social forces, to tackle corruption.

It, therefore, caters to the country's need to build a social network for curbing corruption and maintaining a clean government and a clean business environment.

Top leaders of the country have been fully aware of the importance of picking out the bad elements within official ranks. Much effort has been made in recent years to dig out corrupt officials and bring them to justice and it is proving to be effective in deterring others.

The fall of several high-ranking officials in recent years speaks volume to the country's determination and non-compromising stance on wiping out corruption.

The establishment of a national organ on preventing corruption will sound the clarion call to fight the scourge from its very root.

Given that corruption in this country is taking on new features and becoming more covert, it is high time to enhance prevention work and educate all public servants to lead a decent life.

Commercial and job-related corruption cases have been on a rise and involve higher-ranking officials and larger amounts of money. According to the Supreme People's Court, cases of job-related corruption involving more than 10 million yuan in 2006 doubled from the 2003 number.

The court also revealed that commercial corruption has found its way into transnational business, underscoring the need for more international cooperation in this regard.

Hence, the new national organ on corruption prevention will serve as a platform for the country to draw on international experience and forge international cooperation to take on this universal evil.

Such cooperation will be in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which China is a signatory state. The country's top legislature rectified the international treaty in 2005.

(China Daily September 14, 2007)