e-magazine
The Hot Zone
China's newly announced air defense identification zone over the East China Sea aims to shore up national security
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Hot Links

cheap eyeglasses
Market Avenue
eBeijing

Nation
Backgrounders> Nation
UPDATED: May 26, 2009
The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China
Share

The recently concluded CPC congress is of historic significance to the People's Republic of China for accomplishing a smooth change in leadership and drawing a new blueprint for the future of the country that is undergoing a great era of transformation

The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the first CPC congress in the new century, was held on November 8-14. The congress produced new leaders and determined the basic orientation of the country's economic and social development in the coming years. It will have a far-reaching influence on the political and economic structure of the Asia-Pacific region as well as the world at large.

16TH CPC NATIONAL CONGRESS CLOSES

The 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed November 14, with the 16th CPC Central Committee and a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection elected and three resolutions approved.

The closing session, presided over by Jiang Zemin, first approved a list of two general scrutineers and 36 scrutineers.

Under the supervision of the general scrutineers and scrutineers, the 2,132 delegates and specially-invited delegates present at the session cast their secret ballots and elected the 16th CPC Central Committee, composed of 198 members and 158 alternate members. The delegates also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, comprising 121 members.

The congress endorsed a resolution on the report of the 15th CPC Central Committee, approving the report that was delivered by Jiang Zemin on behalf of the 15th CPC Central Committee.

The congress held that the report has expounded in a profound manner such major questions as what banner to hold, what road to take and what objectives to attain by the CPC in the new century. The report has made overall arrangements for reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive. It is a political declaration and a program of action forthe CPC to unite with and lead people of all ethnic groups throughout the country in forging ahead at a new stage in the new century, the resolution said.

The congress highly valued the work of the 15th CPC Central Committee. The congress approved the summary made by the 15th CPC Central Committee of the great practice over the past 13 years since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee and unanimously agreed on the basic experience the CPC must follow as it leads the people in buildingsocialism with Chinese characteristics.

The congress agreed to establish the important thought of the "Three Represents" as a guiding ideology of the CPC together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The congress pointed out that for the country, the first two decades of the 21st century arc a period of important strategic opportunities, which must be seized tightly and which offers bright prospects. The congress agreed with the objectives of building a well-off society in anall-round way put forward in the report delivered by Jiang and held that the objectives are of great significance for rallying the forces of the entire CPC and the people of all ethnic groups, and speeding up the socialist modernization drive.

The closing session of the congress passed a resolution on the amendment to the Constitution of the CPC, which took effect immediately.

The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the CPC is the vanguard both of the Chinese working class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, as well as the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and that it represents the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced cultureand the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people. The realization of communism is the highest ideal and ultimate goal of the CPC.

The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the "Three Represents" as its guide to action, and that the important thought of the "Three Represents" is a guiding ideology that the CPC must uphold for a long time to come.

The congress also passed a resolution on the work report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, fully approving the work of the commission.

After the congress completed its agenda, Jiang delivered a speech, noting that the congress is successful and inspiring and is of great historic significance in the development process of the CPC and state.

The report of the 15th CPC Central Committee is a political declaration and a program of action for the CPC in the new century, he said.

The First Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee is held on November 15

The amendment to the Constitution of the CPC establishes the important thought of the 'Three Represents" as a guiding ideology of the CPC together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. This reflects new requirements for Party building in the new situation, Jiang said.

The congress elected a new CPC . Central Committee, achieving a smooth succession of the CPC central leadership. The congress also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The election is of great historic significance and will inspire the entire CPC and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to keep pace with the times andpush forward the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Jiang said.

The closing session ended to the tune of the Internationale.

________________________________________

CPC Achieves Succession of Its Central Leadership

Jiang Zemin, the core of the third-generation leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and five of his colleagues in the CPC top decision-making body are not on the new CPC Central Committee elected November 14.

His five colleagues are: Li Peng and Zhu Rongji, both 74, Li Ruihuan, 68, Wei Jianxing, 71, and Li Lanqing, 70.

The only member of the 15th CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Standing Committee who has entered the 16th CPC Central Committee is 59-year-old Hu Jintao.

This took place at the closing session of the 16th CPC National Congress, where the new CPC Central Committee, comprising 356 members, was elected.

With warm applause, the more than 2,100 delegates to the congress showed respect and appreciation to 76-year-old Jiang and his colleagues for the "breadth of their political vision and sterling integrity."

In the past 13 years, the third-generation leadership of the CPC with Jiang at the core, leading Chinese people of all ethnic groups, has made universally acknowledged achievements in reform, economic and social development, maintenance of stability, foreign affairs, national defense, and administration over the CPC, the state and the armed forces.

The years, which have been recognized as a "period of great prosperity," have seen a remarkable rise in China's overall national strength, a marked improvement of people's living standards, social stability and unity, a distinctive increase in China's international influence and greater national cohesion.

Observers say that the smooth generational change of the CPC leadership marks the maturing of the biggest ruling party in the world, with a history of 81 years, and demonstrates the advancement of political civilization in China. It is bound to have positive, far-reaching significance for China's long-term prosperity and stability.

________________________________________

FIRST PLENUM OF THE 16TH CPC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

The 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its First Plenary Session in Beijing November 15.

The 198 full members and 158 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the plenum. Members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) were also present.

Hu Jintao presided over the session and delivered an important speech.

The plenum elected the members and alternates of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Based on the nomination of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central committee, it approved the members of the Secretariat ofthe CPC Central Committee, members of the Central Military Commission, and the secretary, deputy secretaries and Standing Committee members of the CCDI, elected at the First Plenum of the CCDI.

(1) Members and Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: Members (listed in the order of the number of Chinese character strokes in their surnames): Wang Lequan, Wang Zhaoguo, Hui Liangyu (Hui), Liu Qi, Liu Yunshan, Li Changchun, Wu Yi (female), Wu Bangguo, Wu Guanzheng, Zhang Lichang, Zhang Dejiang, Chen Liangyu, Luo Gan, Zhou Yongkang, Hu Jintao, Yu Zhengsheng, He Guoqiang, Jia Qinglin, Guo Boxiong, Huang Ju, Cao Gangchuan, Zeng Qinghong, Zeng Peiyan, Wen Jiabao Alternate Member: Wang Gang

(2) Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, Luo Gan

(3) General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee: HuJintao

(4) Members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee: Zeng Qinghong, Liu Yunshan, Zhou Yongkang, He Guoqiang, Wang Gang, Xu Caihou, He Yong

(5) Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Members of the Central Military Commission Chairman: Jiang Zemin Vice Chairmen: Hu Jintao, Guo Boxiong, Cao Gangchuan Members: Xu Caihou, Liang Guanglie, Liao Xilong, Li Jinai

(6) Secretary, Deputy Secretaries and Standing Committee Members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection: Secretary: Wu Guanzheng Deputy Secretaries: He Yong, Xia Zanzhong, Li Zhilun, Zhang Shutian, Liu Xirong, Zhang Huixin, Liu Fengyan Standing Committee Members (listed in the order of the number of Chinese character strokes in their surnames): Gan Yisheng, Ma Wen (female), Ma Zhipeng, WangZhenchuan, Liu Fengyan, Liu Jiayi, Liu Xirong, Li Zhilun, Wu Guanzheng, Wu Yuping (female), He Yong, Shen Deyong, Zhang Shutian, Zhang Huixin, Zhao Hongzhu, Xia Zanzhong, Huang Shuxian, Xie Houquan.

(Beijing Review No.48, 2002)

For related articles, please visit our archive

 



 
Top Story
-Protecting Ocean Rights
-Partners in Defense
-Fighting HIV+'s Stigma
-HIV: Privacy VS. Protection
-Setting the Tone
Most Popular
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved