Chinese president promises harsher anti-corruption steps

Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday promised to punish every corrupt official and prevent his party from being corrupt, warning that this fight is vital for the party's integrity in the long term.

"Preventing the party from being corrupted in its long term rule of the country is a major political mission. And we must do it right," said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He was addressing the third plenary session of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Xi stressed zero tolerance for graft and promised to punish every corrupt official.

"Every CPC official should keep in mind that all dirty hands will be caught," he said. "Senior officials should hold party discipline in awe and stop taking chances."

In 2013, the party leadership struck hard at corruption and made major progress, Xi said.

According to the CCDI, inspection agencies punished about 182,000 officials nationwide in 2013, which was 13.3 percent more than in 2012. At least 31 high profile officials were investigated by the CCDI and eight of them were handed over to prosecutors.

The CCDI began its plenary session Monday.