CPC session ends, vows to deepen political reform

http://www.idcpc.org.cn/english/events/080227.htm

BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed on Wednesday with a pledge to deepen political reform.

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered an important speech at the session, which was held from Feb. 25 to 27 in Beijing. Participants included 204 members of the CPC Central Committee and 167 alternate members.

Chinese President and CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao delivers an important speech at the Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing, Feb. 27, 2008. The Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed on Wednesday with a pledge to deepen political reform. (Xinhua Photo)


China's political system needed improvements to keep pace with the requirements of the country's economic and social development, the protection of democratic rights and social fairness and justice, said a communique issued after the session.

It said that the CPC must hold higher the banner of democracy, stressing, "It is a constant goal for the Party to advance socialist democracy."

To adhere to and improve the people's congress system and the multiparty cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC is in line with the requirement of consolidating the socialist regime and patriotic united front, and is a key task of developing socialist democracy, it said.

According to the communique, the session approved two lists of candidates for state leaders and leading members of the country's top political advisory body. The lists will be recommended to the presidiums of the upcoming first annual sessions of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) and the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, respectively in March.

The CPC session also approved two documents on deepening the country's administrative system reform and the institutional restructuring of the State Council, the Cabinet. The latter will be submitted to the first session of the 11th NPC for deliberation.

The general goal of administrative reform was to establish a simplified and efficient socialist administrative system with Chinese characteristics by 2020, the communique said.

The Second Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) closed on Wednesday with a pledge to deepen political reform. (Xinhua Photo)


The CPC Central Committee also hailed the efforts and major victories in fighting the severe winter weather in parts of the country since mid-January, calling it an evidence of China's political advantages.

All Party leaders and governments at all levels fought hard against the disaster according to the deployment of the central government. The whole country had been united together in overcoming difficulties.

The session also expressed concerns over social issues in education, social welfare and health care, and pledged to try hard to promote social harmony and ensure social stability. It called for substantial efforts to ensure the success of the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympics.