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Shanghai: officials' families can't run businesses

May 5, 2015

Shanghai officials have imposed a ban on close relatives of government officials from running private businesses. The new regulations are aimed at curbing nepotism and corruption in one of China's major economic centers.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FKAt
Aerial night view of skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District with the Shanghai Tower, tallest, under construction, next to the Shanghai World Financial Center, center, Jinmao Tower and other skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in Pudong, Shanghai, China, 3 Aug 2013
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The move is a pilot measure which will eventually be implemented countywide, according to Chinese officials.

China's president, Xi Jinping, launched an anti-corruption drive after coming to power two years ago, and the Shanghai government's decision to prohibit the officials' spouses, children, or children's spouses from business activities is believed to be part of the presidential anti-graft campaign.

In March, Xi approved the new rules during the annual session of parliament, "requiring that Shanghai run the pilot and lead from the front," state media reported on Monday.

The ban applies to the families of senior officials working at city departments, district and county governments, and judiciary, according to a notice posted on the Shanghai government's website.

Chinese laws already prohibit government employees from running private businesses.

The new measures in Shanghai will require the officials to disclose the details about the jobs held by their relatives to the Communist Party of China.

The Asian economic giant already restricts officials' relatives from certain business activities but the Shanghai ban is the strictest to date.

shs/kms (AP, Reuters)