President Xi Jinping on Monday told senior provincial and ministerial officials to set a good example in abiding by the law.

Though small in number, such leaders are key to and have great responsibility for advancing the rule of law, Xi told a workshop on the topic attended by provincial and ministerial heads.

The President observed that some leading officials had not performed their duties by law and bent the law for personal gain. Such conduct besmirches the Party image and disrupts political, economic and social order, he said.

All the Communist Party of China and government organizations and officials must abide by the Constitution and the law, said Xi.

"Officials should be clear about what the law allows and forbids... We should know where the law sets the boundaries when exercising power and doing our duty," he said, instructing them to use legal means to deal with problems and disputes at work.

"Before we say anything or do anything, we should first check whether it is legitimate," he said. All Party and government work should be legal and violations should be punished. The law, he said, must not be manipulated.

To make sure that senior officials understand and follow the law, compliance with law will be a major factor in assessing performance. Detailed rules on assessment should be drafted, he said

The Constitution and law are drafted and adopted by the people led by the Party, and the Party itself must follow them, Xi said.

Power is a double-edged sword, he said, adding that if used legally, power will benefit the people, otherwise it will spell disaster for the nation. To "rein in power" means it should be defined, regulated, checked and supervised by law.

Xi told the officials present to appreciate the significance of governing the country by law in all aspects as a key strategy in realizing the goal of a moderately prosperous society.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang. Li said promoting the rule of law will be a "big test" for leading officials at all levels and affect their ideology, working practices and leadership skills.

The other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present at the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2015)