The Communist Party of China (CPC) will amend the Party Constitution at its upcoming 17th national congress scheduled for October 15, to reflect "the scientific concept of development" and other major theoretical developments, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee yesterday.

The Political Bureau decided to submit a draft amendment to the CPC Constitution to the 7th Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee for further discussion on October 9, before it is tabled at the national congress.

The amendment should be made "under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of 'Three Represents', and reflect the major strategic thoughts the CPC Central Committee has set forth since 2002, when the 16th CPC National Congress was held, such as the scientific concept of development", the meeting noted.

The concept was formally put forward by the 16th CPC Central Committee at its 3rd Plenum in October, 2003. It stresses people-centered development that is comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable.

It refers to coordinated development between urban and rural areas, among different regions, between economic and social development, between man and nature, and between domestic development and opening up to the outside world.

The amendment to the Party Constitution should also include important theoretical concepts, strategic thoughts and working arrangements which are to be included in the report made to the 17th CPC National Congress.

"The proposed amendment, which is in line with the changes and development of the Party's tasks and situation, will be beneficial for the whole Party to better study and abide by the Party Constitution and to further advance the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics and Party building," according to the meeting.

Yesterday's meeting, presided over by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also discussed a draft report to the 17th CPC National Congress, and decided to table it at the 7th Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee for further review.

All Party members are required to abide by the policies of reform and opening up, advance scientific development, promote social harmony and strive for new victories in the process of building a well-off society in an all-round way, the meeting noted.

The meeting also called on all Party members to understand the new requirements of the country's development and the new expectations of the people to frame guidelines and policies suitable to the times and the people.

The Party should work out strategies that concern the practical problems directly relating to the people and the problems they care most, to further boost the socialistic economic, political, cultural and social development as well as the overall advancement of the Party, the meeting said.

The last amendment to the Party Constitution was made at the 16th CPC Congress in November 2002, when the important thoughts of "Three Represents" were highly appraised and written into the Constitution.

At the 15th CPC Congress in 1997, Deng Xiaoping Theory was added into the Party Constitution as the guiding theory for the CPC to stand next to Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. And the theory on building socialism with Chinese characteristics was enshrined in the Party Constitution at the 14th CPC Congress in 1992.

The CPC national congress is held every five years.

Xinhua

(China Daily 09/18/2007 page1)