China bans gifts bought with public funds during holidays

China today banned exchange of gifts, such as fireworks, bought with public funds during the forthcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays as part of the ruling Communist Party's efforts to curb corruption.
"Party and government offices, civil associations, state- owned enterprises and financial institutions will be prohibited from exchanging gifts bought with public money, such as cigarettes and alcohol, during the upcoming holidays," CPC's Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement.
The commission asked discipline and inspection organs at all levels to strengthen supervision and expose violations in a timely manner during the holidays, adding that flowers and food financed by the public purse will also be targets in the campaign, which is part of anti-corruption drive launched by President Xi Jinping.

Chinese see holidays as the proper time to nurture bonds with friends, as well as cosying up to government officials, and items listed above are considered preferred gifts to bribe officials or business partners, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
CCDI issued similar regulations before the Mid-Autumn Festival in September and ahead of seven days of National Day Holidays in early October.
The campaign against extravagance started with an eight- point rule, introduced at a meeting of the political bureau of the party at the end of last year, with the aim of fighting bureaucracy and formalism and rejecting extravagance among party members.

China's Spring Festival holiday falls on January 31, 2014.