Since their adoption shortly after Xi Jinping became the top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the Eight Rules, with a focus on frugality, integrity and real results, have become a symbol of the rigorous self-discipline expected of all Party members. 

In June, the Eight Rules, along with other new ideas for Party self-reform and development, were officially named Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. This framework is considered an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, an overarching theoretical system on China's governance developed under Xi's leadership.

Beijing Review recently talked with Zheng Huan, a professor of Party development at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in Beijing. Zheng elaborated on the rules and about Xi's vision for China's governance. Edited excerpts of the interview follow:

Beijing Review: When President Xi introduced these rules in 2012, what problems was he trying to fix? 

Zheng Huan: The Eight Rules were reviewed and adopted during a Political Bureau meeting on December 4, 2012, becoming the first major set of internal Party rules introduced under Xi's leadership.

Party building, or the Party's self-development, was deemed necessary to address a large range of issues, so it was essential to identify an entry point. The leadership chose the Eight Rules as both the starting point for improving Party conduct and a mobilizing call to action because the rules addressed the Party's issues from the perspective of recovering public support and ensuring the survival of the Party because corruption was rampant at that time.

Problems related to Party conduct take many forms and have complex causes, but pointless formalities, excessive bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance, which are often called the "Four Malfeasances," are seen as the most salient manifestations. They are the issues that the public is strongly concerned about.

How and why did these rules work and how quickly did things begin to change? 

One reason the Eight Rules have been effective is that the Party adopted a top-down approach. The rules adopted in 2012 specifically targeted members of the Political Bureau, which consists of the Party's most senior leaders including the general secretary. For example, meetings were to become shorter and more efficient. In terms of security arrangements, officials were told not to block roads or clear public venues when leaders traveled. In news coverage, there was an effort to reduce excessive reporting on leaders and instead devote more attention to the everyday lives and experiences of ordinary people.

The specific requirements for the implementation of the rules were revised in 2017 and 2022 while upholding their underlying principles, both times with even stricter requirements for the central leadership.

A second important lesson is that the leadership followed through on its promises. At the beginning, some people wondered whether the Eight Rules would just be another short-lived campaign or become a mere formality without real impact. To restore public trust, the Party first had to make the Eight Rules work. The idea was to accomplish one concrete thing first before moving on to the next so that people could see the Party was capable of reforming itself and was serious about it.

By taking real action rather than relying on slogans, the leadership responded directly to public skepticism. This practical, results-oriented approach has been one of the defining features of the campaign to improve Party conduct.

A third important lesson is the push to make conduct improvement an ongoing and institutionalized effort.

The Party's approach has relied mainly on rules and institutional mechanisms, rather than short-lived political campaigns.

Misconduct is a recurring and deeply rooted problem. It cannot be solved overnight or eliminated in a single campaign. Nor can reform come in waves that disappear after a burst of activity. These issues require constant attention over the long term.

Since 2012, the Party has taken a tough stance, cracking down as soon as unhealthy practices emerge, staying alert to new and hidden forms of misconduct, and strictly investigating officials who violate rules despite repeated warnings.

What supervisory mechanisms does the Party have in place to ensure compliance with these rules at different levels? 

Let's start with the monthly reporting system. Beginning in November 2013, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the Party's discipline watchdog, began publicly releasing monthly reports on violations of the spirit of the Eight Rules. At first, the reports covered seven categories of problems, including unauthorized construction of government buildings and lavish government-funded banquets. Later, the categories were expanded to nine and have been continuously adjusted.

One good example is how the rules on improper dining and banquets have changed over time.

In the early monthly reports released in 2013, lavish government-funded banquets were identified and targeted as a major issue. But then some people began asking: If large-scale public banquets violate the rules, what about smaller meals paid for with public funds? Do those count or not?

In 2016, the wording was revised to "improper government-funded dining," making it clear that whether large or small, the expense was a violation of the Eight Rules.

Then another question emerged: If officials were no longer using public money, what about private banquets paid for by private entrepreneurs? Would those count?

As a result, in January 2020, the CCDI changed the term again, from "improper government-funded dining" to simply "improper dining," further broadening the scope.

By September this year, the CCDI and the National Commission of Supervision, the highest supervisory body of the state, had released these reports for 157 consecutive months. The reports publicly disclose investigation and disciplinary data, allowing the public to monitor Party and government conduct.

Another important mechanism is the public notification system for typical disciplinary cases.

In 2013, during the Party-wide campaign against the "Four Malfeasances," the CCDI introduced a new practice: publicly naming individuals and exposing typical violations. This was designed to address public skepticism and also the tendency among some people to wait and see whether the campaign really was serious.

By publicly identifying officials involved in major cases, the Party aimed to create a strong deterrent effect and send a warning to others.

The Party has tried to set standards from the top. Internal supervision has focused especially on what are called the "key minority," meaning leading officials in positions of authority, in order to create pressure and deterrence that spread downward.

At the same time, public notification has made it clear that enforcement will only become stricter over time. The message is that discipline and accountability are not temporary measures, but an increasingly institutionalized part of Party self-governance.

What performance indicators does the Party use to measure the effects of these rules, such as decreased spending, increased output or increased public approval? And how does it measure them? 

In a 2025 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics, 95.5 percent of respondents said they recognized the effectiveness of implementing the Eight Rules, while 92.2 percent expressed satisfaction with the way improvements in Party and government conduct had helped improve the broader social atmosphere.

That's a significant change compared with the period before 2012. At that time, public satisfaction with Party conduct stood at about 75 percent. The increase in public approval over the past decade has been very noticeable.

Before the Eight Rules were introduced in late 2012, government spending was high, and public complaints were widespread. Through stricter budget controls, full-process oversight and greater transparency in government budgeting and spending, administrative costs were steadily reduced.

Official reception expenses saw the sharpest decline. In 2012, the budget for official receptions was about 1.49 billion yuan ($220 million). By 2025, it had fallen to around 302 million yuan ($44 million), a drop of more than 80 percent. Practices such as using public money for banquets and excessive official entertaining were essentially eliminated.

The funds saved through these reductions have been redirected toward public welfare, key industries and community development.

In addition to simply cleaning up visible unhealthy practices, the Eight Rules have also influenced ways of thinking in society.

And most importantly, these changes are long-term in nature. The reforms have not only begun solving the Party's immediate problems, but are also strengthening the foundations of its long-term governance.

The Eight Rules 

--The first rule calls for Political Bureau members to conduct more and better research into societal issues through in-person investigation. 

--The second rule requires members to ask for permission to participate in official ceremonies and celebratory events, and to streamline meetings to avoid wasting time. 

--The third rule calls for documents and briefings to be streamlined to avoid wasting time and resources. 

--The fourth rule more strictly governs the frequency and scale of members' official overseas trips. 

--Rule number five calls for fewer traffic controls when members travel in order to reduce inconvenience to the public. 

--Rule number six calls on the media to report on members and official events only when there is genuine news value. 

--The seventh rule requires members to ask for permission before publishing their own works. 

--The eighth rule calls for diligence and frugality to reduce expenses including accommodation and transport. 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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