President Xi Jinping called for reforms to be advanced in all sectors as the leading group for overall reform convened its 20th meeting on Jan 11.

Xi, head of the group, said a foundation should be laid in the next three years to comprehensively deepen reforms, and the main task for this year should be setting clear objectives for all the reforms and allocating the duties for all the parties concerned to ensure reform implementation. A group of regulatory resolutions and decisions were approved at the meeting.

According to an issued statement, those attending the meeting called for transparency in government affairs, especially in key issues like the financial budget, allocation of public resources, approval and construction of key projects, and public welfare undertakings, to build a government ruled by law.

Leaders and officials at all levels were urged to learn the Constitution and laws and improve their ability to perform duties according to law. Their understanding and ability to use laws will be an important indicator for their work assessment.

The statement also called for enhancement of the system encouraging the public to report cases of suspected duty-related crimes. It said the award amounts for whistle blowers should be clarified and these informants should be protected. Meanwhile, retaliation against whistleblowers should be prevented and severely punished.

The pilot reform of institutions with administrative functions should be carried out with innovation, it stressed. The reform of these institutions should inject vitality into the market and society by improving their service and streamlining their structure.

The meeting also highlighted the significance of clarifying leading officials' responsibilities in management of public security, and added that the management of police support staff should be standardized with better job security and rules.

The statement also emphasized division of responsibilities between different governmental departments and the need for coordination between them. Reform group leaders should make good deployments and supervise the implemention of policies and plans, and the responsible department for any specific reform should serve as the main operator, with its senior officials in charge of every step. The local Party committees should fully carry out the central government’s reform tasks and encourage innovations at the grassroots level.

The meeting was also attended by Premier Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan, Zhang Gaoli, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and deputy heads of the group, as well as other group members and central governmental officials.