Beijing - The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has published a new set of clean governance rules as it moves to strengthen the management of its 88 million Party members.

The rules, adopted at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Oct. 12, updated the previous regulation, which was released in 2010 and considered obsolete as the party now has a much higher standards of morals on its members.

The new rules for the first time expanded its coverage from only leading cadres to all CPC members. In stark contrast from the previous rules, which listed 53 articles party cadres are forbidden from doing, the new 8-article regulation mainly stipulates moral ethics for party members.

All CPC members and leading cadres must strengthen their conviction about communism ideals and socialism with Chinese characteristics, carry on the principle of serving the people wholeheartedly and inherit the fine traditions of the Party, the new rules state.

Party members must separate public from private interest, put public interest first and work selflessly for the public, said one article. Another article requires party members to uphold simplicity and guard against extravagance.

At the Oct. 12 meeting, the party leadership also adopted a set of rules on sanctions of those who break party rules. The revisions uphold the principle that Party discipline is stricter than the law and discipline should be put before the law, according to the meeting.

The CPC also issued a circular recently urging government and party organs at all levels to follow the rules.