A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Thursday praised an official national newspaper for its dedicated fight against corruption.
  
Wu Guanzheng, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, made the comments about the China Discipline Inspection and Supervision News, a newspaper published by the commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Supervision.
  
Addressing a rally marking the 10th founding anniversary of the newspaper, Wu said the newspaper has excellently reported the CPC's struggle against corruption and maintains close ties to the public.
  
Wu, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged the newspaper to help readers understand of the country's fight against corruption and the efforts to build a clean government.
  
Meanwhile, Wu said, the newspaper boosts the public's confidence that the Party will win the war against corruption.
  
The Party has stepped up its fight against corruption in the past few years, and several officials at ministerial or higher levels have been jailed or sentenced to death.
  
Tian Fengshan, former minister of land and resources, has been expelled by the Party from the CPC Central Committee and deprived him of Party membership after he was convicted on corruption charges. He is also facing criminal charges, the Party said Sunday.
  
According to a report on investigation into Tian's case by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Tian was accused of abusing his power and taking bribes worth 5.03 million yuan (US$600,000).

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2004)