Hu proposes scientific therapy to unleash vitality of socialism

Chinese leader Hu Jintao on Monday proposed a scientific therapy to unleash the vitality of socialism which underscores gradually broadened and deepened reforms to ensure parallel economic prosperity and social harmony.

Charting out the country's development contour in the next few years, Hu called in a keynote speech to delegates of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to thoroughly implement the scientific outlook on development to accomplish the ruling party's mission of building a moderately prosperous society.

Hu told more than 2,200 delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress that as part of the theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the scientific outlook on development stands along with Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of "Three Represents" raised by former Party and state leader Jiang Zemin, two banners the CPC holds high in its course of reform and opening.

Emphasizing the ideological continuity of the Party, Hu, who delivered the political report on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee, described the Chinese socialism theories as an open system that keeps developing.

Guided by this outlook, the Party takes the country's development as its top priority but at the same time underlines sustainity that features ecology, environment and resources conservation.

Hu defined a "moderately prosperous society" as one measured by a larger per capita share of consumption to GDP, improved primary-level democracy, growth of the cultural industry, lifelong education put into place basically, social security available to both urban and rural residents, a reasonable and orderly pattern of income distribution and a conservation culture that promotes energy- and resource-efficient production and consumption.

Stephen Roach, Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia who has been watching China for years, said the new outlook would "put teeth into" China's ongoing shift from focusing on the quantity to the quality of economic growth and "usher in a much more sustainable era of economic growth".

"To the extent that China's ideological anchor leads to a successful implementation of scientific development that then successfully shifts the focus of its growth experience from quantity to quality, I certainly applaud it," he said.