China graft watchdog opens to foreign scholars

The Communist Party of China (CPC) allowed foreign scholars to take a peek inside its heavily guarded anti-graft HQ on Thursday.

Lying in Ping'anli West Street in downtown Beijing, far removed from the eyes of the public, the Central Commission for Discipline and Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC welcomed 50 foreign scholars from 28 countries, most of whom are old China hands and many are former politicians.

After being briefed on the institution's history, staff composition and procedures, visitors met with Chinese officials to learn about the high-profile anti-corruption drive.

The CCDI said it had exposed 51,600 breaches of anti-bureaucracy and formalism guidelines by the end of July and punished 67,679 officials for using public funds for entertainment, weddings, funerals and others.

Martin Jacques of the London School of Economics and Political Science said he saw a very professional discipline institution and the sophisticated working procedures will be vital to clean administration.

It is not the first time that the CCDI has opened its doors to foreign guests. A total of 31 politicians, scholars and journalists from more than 20 countries visited in 2013.