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17th CPC National Congress
Special> 17th CPC National Congress
UPDATED: October 30, 2007 NO.44 NOV.1, 2007
Democracy Underlined
Hu Jintao's report at the recent Party Congress sparks interest among Chinese academics
By YAN WEI
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Nearly three decades after the advent of economic reform, China has come to a critical juncture where new problems are emerging despite the extraordinary progress the country has made. That's partly the reason why the recent 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the report delivered by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, drew wide attention, experts said.

"General Secretary Hu Jintao's political report at the 17th CPC National Congress was informative, highly strategic and forward looking," said Wang Yukai, professor at the China National School of Administration.

Wang and other Chinese scholars believe that the report rolled out the blueprint for China's economic, political, cultural and social development in the years to come.

Further reform

The report's most important point is that China will not waver in its reform and opening up, Wang said.

The report is essential for building the CPC's consensus on China's reform and opening-up policy, Wang said. While reviewing the past 29 years since the policy was adopted, and in particular the most recent five years, the report underlined the necessity of upholding the reform and opening-up policy. To a certain extent, it exemplified the CPC central leadership's firm determination to carry out this policy, Wang said.

The report has far-reaching implications for China's overall development strategy, Wang said. In the report, Hu not only explained the meaning of the "Scientific Outlook on Development," but also dwelled upon its relationship with other crucial concepts such as "reform and opening up," "building a harmonious society" and "building a society of moderate prosperity in all aspects."

The report highlighted the importance of social development and is expected to exert influence on the development of social services and social management, Wang said. While enjoying rapid economic growth, China is only progressing slowly in terms of social services, he said. For the first time, the report linked promoting social development with resolving pressing social problems such as education, employment, medical care, care for the elderly and housing. Wang pointed to this as evidence of a major transition in the CPC's governing philosophy.

Commitment to democracy

The report also called for deepening political reform, another point that Wang believes will help shape China's future. The report analyzed issues such as reforming the political system and promoting democracy. It made important judgments about the reform of the government and the administrative management system and identified the priorities for upcoming reforms.

Wang believes that acute social problems and chronic corruption among officials in China are all attributable to the sluggish progress of its political system. Without a major breakthrough in the political dimension, efforts to implement the Scientific Outlook on Development and build a society of moderate prosperity in all aspects may be severely hindered, he warned.

Wang Changjiang, Director of the Department of Party Building of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, had similar views. He said the report not only once again underscored the principle of democracy, but also sought to put democracy into practice. For example, it said that the Party would reform the intra-Party electoral system and improve the system for nominating candidates and electoral methods.

The report reflected the CPC's resolve to combat corruption, as evidenced by tough wording that has never been used in previous reports, he added. Instead of paying lip service to public scrutiny, the report emphasized that anti-corruption institutions should be improved to combat corruption with strict preventive mechanisms, he said.

Views on world

Hu's report will have international implications as well, because it has put forward new guidelines on China's diplomacy.

Zou Zunnan, an expert on international studies and former professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said that after the 17th CPC National Congress, China would focus its diplomatic efforts on building a harmonious world. In other words, China will contribute all efforts conducive to world harmony, such as peacekeeping, regional conflict mitigation, antiterrorism and efforts to address environmental problems and global warming.

While cooperating with other countries on these issues, China will never seek hegemony, Zhou said. However, it will try to make itself better known in the world and strengthen cultural exchange and cooperation with foreign countries to enhance its "soft power," he said.

Xia Yishan, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said "building a harmonious world" is the latest development in China's traditional foreign policy of peace and an extension of its "harmonious society" theory.

"The 17th CPC National Congress conveyed the message that China not only respects the political, economic, cultural and social differences of the countries, but also is ready to learn from the achievements of all fine human civilizations and take on greater responsibility for the world," said Wang of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

See Hu's report at www.bjreview.com.cn



 
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