The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection of Beijing, China on Wednesday rolled out a list with 10 categories of wrongdoings to avoid for government officials who deal with entrepreneurs in the city to give a push to the private sector.

China’s private sector contributes to more than 60 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and adds to more than 50 percent of its tax revenue. However, the sector suffered major setbacks due to China’s stringent COVID-19 lockdown. To “reinvigorate” the slowed-down sector, the 1,300-word document instructed Beijing employees to avoid behaviors, “including neglecting businesses’ needs, inaction or inertia in serving businesses, selective law enforcement, unlawful interference and abuse of power.” The document also prohibits the acceptance of gifts, paid part-time work and company shares by officials.

China has implemented stringent laws penalizing commercial corruption, especially after President Xi Jinping promised in 2017 to “root out” corruption from the country. The new anti-corruption laws include 2020 revisions to the Criminal Law of the PRC, which penalizes extortion, bribery, and embezzlement by a public official, and the Supervision Law, 2018, which strengthened the supervision of public officials.  

In August 2023, 15 high-ranking officials were placed under investigation over their alleged involvement in “serious violations of discipline and laws,” according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CCDI), which is the country’s supervisory authority.