Eight-point Regulation

The Eight-point Regulation of the Centre (Chinese: 中央八项规定) is a set of regulations stipulated by Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party. They were first announced on December 4, 2012, at a meeting of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. These regulations were aimed at instilling more discipline among party members, and making the party "closer to the masses".^[1] In effect, it calls for party members and officials in particular to 'do real work, say real things', and understand the practical situation on the ground. It seeks to tackle the culture of privilege that has permeated Chinese officialdom in the eras of his predecessors.

Regulations

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1. Leaders must maintain close contact with the grassroots. They must understand the real situation facing society through in-depth visits at the grassroots level. Greater attention should be focused on places where social problems are more acute, and inspection tours must be carried out more thoroughly. Inspection tours which are a mere formality should be strictly prohibited. Leaders should work and listen to the public and lower level officials; the most practical problems facing ordinary people must be tackled. For official visits, there should be no welcome banner, no red carpet, no floral arrangement or grand receptions for officials. 2. Meetings and major events should be strictly regulated, and their efficiency improved. Politburo members are not allowed to attend ribbon-cutting or cornerstone-laying ceremonies, or celebrations and seminars, unless they get approval from the Central Committee. Official meetings should be shortened, be specific and to-the-point, and be free of empty-talk and blather. 3. The issuing of official documents should be reduced. 4. Officials' visits to foreign countries should only be arranged when absolutely necessary, with fewer accompanying members; on most occasions, there is no need to mobilize a reception by Chinese expatriates, institutions and students at the airport. 5. There should be fewer traffic controls when leaders travel by car to avoid unnecessary inconvenience to the public. 6. The media should seek to reduce the number of news reports related to members of the Politburo, their work and their activities. The media should also seek to reduce the amount of time spent on these news pieces and minimize their scope. Such stories should only be reported depending on work needs, news value, and potential social impact. 7. Leaders should not publish any works by themselves or issue any congratulatory letters in their own name unless an arrangement has been made with the central authorities. Official documents without much meaningful content and without much actual importance should be withheld. Publications dedicated to senior officials' work and activities are also restricted. 8. Leaders must practice thrift and strictly follow relevant regulations on accommodation and cars.[2]

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References

1. "政治局：委员到基层调研要简化接待". Xinhua. Sina. December 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
2. The excerpt was taken, with minor translation alterations, from China Daily. "Eight-point regulation". China Daily. December 15, 2012.