The meeting was attended by representatives of the Party's grassroots organizations and members who had been honored for their roles in the rescue and relief campaign after the May 12 earthquake. Top leaders Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin and others were also present.

The death toll of the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake reached nearly 70,000, and more than 18,000 were reported missing Monday. Government relief fund totaled 54.72 billion yuan (about 7.82 billion U.S. dollars), while domestic and foreign donations hit 55.3 billion yuan in cash and goods.

Hu told the meeting that education and supervision of Party members and leading officials in regard to clean governance should be strengthened, the system of punishing and preventing corruption further be improved, and efforts in the anti-corruption drive be increased.

These measures are essential for the Party members and leading officials "to maintain their original political color, and be clean in doing their jobs and behaving themselves," Hu said.

He also promised that officials who "passed tests and showed extraordinary capability in the rescue, relief and rebuilding work" should be promoted to leading positions.

The Summer Beijing Olympic Games is drawing near to us, and the curtain of the world-focusing gala sports party will be pulled in about a month's time. I think that it is very possible that after the Olympic Games, Dalai Lama will fade in influence in the eyes of the Western countries. What the West cares is not only the growing economic power of China, but also the increasing political and diplomatic influence of this Oriental dynamic country. It is safe to say that China counts much more, in comparison with Dalai Lama, in anyone's mind.

China's central government is now willing to hold talks with him. I strongly suggest that Dalai Lama ought to grasp this chance, and respond positively towards the central government. If he continues to put on another political show on the world stage, the chance is likely to slip away. We have listened to what he has spoken lately, including those "soft speeches", but his faithfulness is questionable. Therefore, if the Dalai Lama really cares about this chance of negotiation with the central government, he needs to make up his mind, and trade good with good in action.

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