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UPDATED: October-21-2007 NO.43 OCT.25, 2007
Prelude to Party Congress
The Seventh Plenum of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sets the tone for the 17th Party Congress
By ZAN JIFANG

The four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded on October 12 in Beijing. The meeting paved the way for the 17th CPC National Congress held on October 15-21, the most important political event in China this year.

The plenum is presided over by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. A total of 190 members and 152 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the plenum, and members of the CPC's Discipline Watchdog and leading officials of relevant departments were also present as non-voting members.

The plenum discussed the work report made by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, entrusted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

It also discussed and approved a report to be presented by the 16th CPC Central Committee to the 17th National Party Congress and an amendment to the Constitution of the CPC. Both documents will be submitted to the 17th Party Congress for examination, the plenum decided.

Hu explained the draft report to the plenum, and Wu Bangguo, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, explained the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

The plenum also reviewed and approved two investigation reports by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on the case of Chen Liangyu, former Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and Du Shicheng, former Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee. The two persons have been involved in corruption cases.

It endorsed the decisions made by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee this year to expel Chen and Du from the Party, said the communiqué. The decision to expel Chen from the Party was made on July 26, and Du was stripped of CPC membership on April 23.

In line with the CPC Constitution, the CPC National Congress is held every five years. The CPC had only about 50 members in mid 1921 when the Party was founded. By June 2007, the number of the Party members had grown to 73.363 million.

The functions and powers of the National Party Congress are to examine the reports of the Central Committee and the reports of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, to discuss and decide on major questions concerning the Party, to revise the Constitution of the Party, to elect the Central Committee and to elect the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The Seventh Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee issued a communiqué on October 12. In it the plenum made a favorable assessment on the work of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the Sixth Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee that was held last October.

The communiqué stated that, with the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "The Three Represents," the Political Bureau has earnestly implemented the spirit of the16th Party Congress and the previous plenums of the 16th CPC Central Committee, and thoroughly carried out the Scientific Outlook on Development.

It said that the Political Bureau has led the people of all ethnic groups to push forward toward "an overall economic, political, cultural and social development" and the "new great project of Party building" by "promoting scientific development and social harmony, strengthening macroeconomic control, adjusting economic structure, transforming development style, boosting energy saving and environmental protection, pushing forward reform and innovation, advancing social development and trying hard to address the public's livelihood issues."

It said the Party has "taken a firm stride" toward the goal of creating a "moderately prosperous society" set out in the 16th Party Congress in 2002 and "created better conditions" for the 17th Party Congress.

The plenum summarized the Party's work over the past five years and agreed that the past five-years was a "remarkable" period, the communiqué said.

Facing a changing and complicated international environment and shouldering an arduous task of reform and development, the central authorities of the CPC with Hu Jintao acting as general secretary, has conquered various difficulties and risks while relying on all the people of various ethnic groups and sticking to the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "The Three Represents," the communiqué said.

It also said the country's economic strength has been greatly enhanced, the reform and opening-up have achieved major breakthroughs, people's lives have been greatly improved, the building of democracy and law has made prominent strides, cultural construction has shown new prospects, and the development of national defense and military forces has achieved historic success.

Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have continued to maintain prosperity and stability, and more efforts have been made to settle the Taiwan issue, the communiqué said, adding the multi-faceted diplomacy of the country has "made great accomplishments" and the Party has been "steadily developed," all of which "have opened new prospects for the socialist cause with Chinese characteristics."

The plenum also promoted Zhu Zuliang, Du Xuefang, Yang Chuantang and Qiu Yanhan, four alternate members of the 16th CPC Central Committee, to full members.

In addition, it "thoroughly analyzed" the current situation and tasks, carried out in-depth discussions on several major issues such as continuing to push forward "the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics" from a new historic starting point and the "new great project of Party building," making full preparations for the convention of the 17th National Party Congress, the communiqué said.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

 



 
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