The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China concluded this morning after a week long session. Delegates praised the Congress which firmly entrenched socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the Scientific Outlook on Development as the guideline for the future of the country.
It was the closing session of the 17th CPC National Congress, a meeting that will take a place in Party history.
Hu Jintao presided over the closing session. Altogether 371 members and alternate members were elected to the 17th Central Committee. Also elected was a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which has 127 members.
Three of the members of the Party's top decision-making body were not on the new Central Committee -- Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng and Luo Gan. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 16th CPC Central Committee to join the new central committee are Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin and Li Changchun.
This was the fifth time that competitive election was used at the CPC Congress. At least 8% of nominees were eliminated on Friday and Saturday in the primary elections for members and alternate members of the 17th CPC Central Committee, and members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
More than 2200 delegates unanimously endorsed a resolution on the report delivered by Comrade Hu Jintao on behalf of the Sixteenth Central Committee.
The Congress also passed a resolution on the work report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the 16th CPC Central Committee, and an amendment to the Party's constitution to embody the scientific outlook on development and other major strategic thoughts advanced since the last Congress in 2002.
The delegates spoke highly of the significance of the congress and the report made by Hu Jintao.
Delegates agreed that the scientific outlook on development takes development as its essence, putting people first as its core, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development as its basic requirement, and overall consideration as its fundamental approach.
The scientific outlook on development was proposed by the 16th CPC Central Committee in 2003, against a backdrop of rapid economic growth and a series of problems including excessive consumption of resources, damage to the environment and a widening gap between the rich and poor.
The congress also said steady progress has been made towards the goal set at the Sixteenth Congress of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
Hu Jintao said the theme of the congress is to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, continue to emancipate the mind, persist in reform and opening up, pursue development in a scientific way, promote social harmony, and strive for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
He said the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the banner guiding development and progress in contemporary China and rallying the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country in a common endeavor.
Hu Jintao said emancipating the mind is a magic instrument for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, reform and opening up provide a strong driving force for developing it, and scientific development and social harmony are basic requirements for developing it.
Hu Jintao called on the whole Party to unswervingly hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and lead the people in starting from this new historical point, grasping and making the most of the important period of strategic opportunities, remaining realistic and pragmatic, forging ahead with determination, continuing to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accelerate socialist modernization, and accomplishing the lofty mission bestowed by the times.
With the close of the Congress, the first plenary session of the 17th CPC Central Committee will be held on Monday to elect members and alternate members of the CPC Politburo, and the members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo.
