China's ruling Communist Party will hold its annual meeting from September 15-18, with the focus on fighting corruption in the ranks following a series of high-profile cases, state media reported Tuesday.

A document on "improving party building" will be tabled at the meeting of the 2,000 or so members of the Central Committee that will lay out policy aimed at helping the ruling communists cope with the demands of China's development and reform, Xinhua news agency said.

"The Chinese Communist Party should be strict with the party members by conducting strict education, administration, monitoring and self-criticism," the report said of the plenary meeting.

"The party should also make redoubled efforts to improve the party's work style, build a clean government and fight corruption."

The dates and agenda were decided at a Tuesday meeting presided over by party head and President Hu Jintao, the report said.

The plenum will be held only weeks before China marks its 60th anniversary of communist rule on October 1 with a grand military parade in central Beijing.

It also comes amid social dissatisfaction over a yawning income gap between rich and poor and as the government cracks down on corruption among the ruling elite.

Last week, Sun Yu, 52, the former vice chairman of the southern Guangxi region, was jailed for 18 years for taking bribes worth 3.3 million yuan (480,000 dollars) and swindling an equal amount from the regional government.

On August 7, Li Peiying, the former head of the company that owns Beijing Capital International Airport, was executed.

Li, 60, was convicted of bribery and embezzlement totalling nearly 16 million dollars.

The former head of oil giant Sinopec, Chen Tonghai, was handed a suspended death sentence in July after being found guilty of corrupt practices.

And the mayor of the southern boom town of Shenzhen, Xu Zongheng, has been under investigation for corruption since his removal from office in June.

The cases came to light following repeated warnings from President Hu that graft is one of the greatest threats to the legitimacy of Communist Party rule.

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