The top anti-graft authority has reiterated the importance of disciplinary inspections of lower level of government organizations and urged all Party committees to stop promoting corrupt officials.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China's top anti-graft body, said on Sunday that half the officials convicted of corruption charges in a couple of provinces were found to have had a history of corrupt practices before their appointments were approved by Party committees.

"How can corruption be rooted out when the central leadership fights endemic corruption alone?" the CCDI asked.

"Some officials have been corrupt for more than a decade as they climbed the ladder of officialdom," the statement said. "If Party committees at the ground level turn a blind eye to the promotion of corrupt officials and indulges those involved in misconduct, all the problems will accumulate, and the load of all anti-corruption work will be pushed onto the shoulders of the central government."

As the negligence of Party committees at lower levels has been brought to light, the top graft fighter asked them to carry out disciplinary inspection tours at county levels and keep an eye on county chiefs and Party committee members of the counties.

Thirteen inspection teams have been set up by the top anti-graft body, and five rounds of inspections in 31 provinces, regions and cities have been completed since the nationwide campaign on corruption began in late 2012.

In the latest inspections by the 13 teams from late February to the end of April, 19 top managers from 26 State-owned enterprises were held on corruption charges.

zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn