BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China is trying to restore its reputation for propriety and righteousness by establishing principles of ethics and etiquette.

　　"Ethics and etiquette are indispensable for regulating various social relations and keeping a well-ordered country," said Chen Ying, director of the Research Center on Ethics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

　　However, the country is facing serious problems, he said.

　　Rushing for seats on buses or trains, shouting in public, making public places dirty are all examples of poor etiquette, not to mention the widespread practice of public spitting.

　　Dereliction of duty and corruption among officials are more serious ethical problems, which can have terrible consequences when the officials responsible for the execution of laws are corrupt, sociologists say.

　　Chinese people sometimes show a lack of commitment and always think about acquiring more money. Deceit and dishonesty have even appeared in scientific and educational communities during the country's transition period.

　　Problems related to ethics and etiquette in China have impeded the improvement of living environments and contacts with the outside world against the background of China's entry into World Trade Organization.

　　The central government and Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) have been cracking down on all anti-social practices and promoting ethics and etiquette over the past two decades.

　　At the beginning of the 1980s, the CPC advocated building a socialist civilization that was culturally, ideologically and materially advanced.

　　The Guideline on Promotion of Citizens' Ethics and Etiquette was issued two years ago and Sept. 20 has been designated the national day for the promotion of ethics and etiquette.

　　"As a complicated system, ethics construction has a long way to go," said Chen.

　　The first job will be instilling a sense of obligation among citizens, he said. Enditem