Disclosing officials' assets

In a move widely anticipated to help more effectively fight corruption, South China's Guangdong province has decided to launch a pilot program in Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai and Shixing county of Shaoguan, requiring Party and government officials to report and disclose their assets.

According to the provincial disciplinary authorities, the program will be completed before 2014 and then be gradually extended to the rest of the province.

Guangdong's decision came as the Communist Party of China is displaying greater determination and tightened efforts to fight graft since the formation of its new leadership at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in mid-November and thus has received extensive attention. That several local officials have been investigated and convicted of corruption and bribery after Internet exposures of their immense assets highlights the urgency and necessity for promoting the disclosure of officials' assets, a move that can facilitate anti-graft efforts from the roots.