Premier Li oversees oath-taking ceremony

Premier Li Keqiang oversaw 16 high-ranking officials taking their oaths to the Constitution in Beijing on Tuesday, the Cabinet's fifth such ceremony where senior officials pledge their allegiance to China's bedrock law.

The officials, from 14 central government departments and institutions, were appointed to their positions by the Cabinet from July to November.

Li said at the ceremony that staying loyal to the Constitution and abiding by the law is a basic code of conduct which every civil servant must obey, and ensuring the people can live decent lives should be the ultimate goal for all officials to keep in mind.

He urged officials to take the lead in respecting the law, learning about the law and abiding by the law, and press ahead with reform and innovation.

He also called them to make their utmost effort to delivering the best results in matters the public is most concerned about, and ensure the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society.

Placing his left hand on a red-covered copy of the Constitution and holding his right hand upward, Gao Yu, a deputy secretary-general of the State Council, led officials in the oath-taking.

In front of the national emblem, the officials swore loyalty to the Constitution, saying they will safeguard its authority and perform their statutory duties.

They said they will be loyal to the motherland and the people, remain earnest in their duties, accept supervision from the people and work hard to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous and strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

In 2015, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, passed and released a legal document that requires all public servants take the oath and abide by the Constitution.