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| China congress: Hu Jintao opens party meeting on leadership change | China congress: Hu Jintao opens party meeting on leadership change |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Chinese President Hu Jintao has opened a Communist Party congress that begins a once-in-a-decade power transfer with a stark warning on corruption. | Chinese President Hu Jintao has opened a Communist Party congress that begins a once-in-a-decade power transfer with a stark warning on corruption. |
| Addressing more than 2,000 delegates, Mr Hu said that a failure to tackle the issue "could prove fatal to the party". | Addressing more than 2,000 delegates, Mr Hu said that a failure to tackle the issue "could prove fatal to the party". |
| China faced unprecedented opportunities and challenges, he said, and the nation should "aim higher and work harder". | China faced unprecedented opportunities and challenges, he said, and the nation should "aim higher and work harder". |
| His speech kicks off a week-long meeting that will see a new set of leaders unveiled. | His speech kicks off a week-long meeting that will see a new set of leaders unveiled. |
| Security is very tight across Beijing, with many dissidents detained or under house arrest, rights groups say. | Security is very tight across Beijing, with many dissidents detained or under house arrest, rights groups say. |
| Justice for lawbreakers | Justice for lawbreakers |
| Long sections of Mr Hu's carefully scripted speech dealt with the party's problems with corruption. He admitted the fight against corruption remained a serious challenge. Returning to the issue an hour later, he warned a failure to deal with the problem could "cause the collapse of the party". Mr Hu warned officials to exercise better self-discipline and guard against their families and staff enriching themselves. | Long sections of Mr Hu's carefully scripted speech dealt with the party's problems with corruption. He admitted the fight against corruption remained a serious challenge. Returning to the issue an hour later, he warned a failure to deal with the problem could "cause the collapse of the party". Mr Hu warned officials to exercise better self-discipline and guard against their families and staff enriching themselves. |
| Mr Hu then turned to the heart of his speech, outlining his plan for China to modernise and reform everything from the economy to China's education system and the military. Over and over, Mr Hu emphasised the need for "scientific development", which aims to balance break-neck economic growth with grassroots social welfare. | Mr Hu then turned to the heart of his speech, outlining his plan for China to modernise and reform everything from the economy to China's education system and the military. Over and over, Mr Hu emphasised the need for "scientific development", which aims to balance break-neck economic growth with grassroots social welfare. |
| Mr Hu finished with a pep talk for party members following a period of political infighting, emphasising the need for political unity. He concluded with an apparent critique of his rival political faction, the "Princelings" - those who enjoyed high-flying political careers because their parents were also high-ranking party members. Mr Hu called for members to rise through the ranks "on merit, without regard to their origins". | Mr Hu finished with a pep talk for party members following a period of political infighting, emphasising the need for political unity. He concluded with an apparent critique of his rival political faction, the "Princelings" - those who enjoyed high-flying political careers because their parents were also high-ranking party members. Mr Hu called for members to rise through the ranks "on merit, without regard to their origins". |
| Mr Hu told delegates at the Great Hall of the People that China had to adapt to a changing domestic and global environment. | Mr Hu told delegates at the Great Hall of the People that China had to adapt to a changing domestic and global environment. |
| "We must aim higher and work harder and continue to pursue development in a scientific way, promote social harmony and improve the people's lives," he said. | "We must aim higher and work harder and continue to pursue development in a scientific way, promote social harmony and improve the people's lives," he said. |
| China's development should be made more balanced and sustainable, he said, and the "serious challenge" of corruption should be addressed. | China's development should be made more balanced and sustainable, he said, and the "serious challenge" of corruption should be addressed. |
| "If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state," he said. | "If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the party, and even cause the collapse of the party and the fall of the state," he said. |
| Anyone who broke the law would be brought to justice, "whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have", he said. | Anyone who broke the law would be brought to justice, "whoever they are and whatever power or official positions they have", he said. |
| The months leading up to the congress have seen China's political leadership rocked by a scandal involving Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party leader once seen as a candidate for top office. | The months leading up to the congress have seen China's political leadership rocked by a scandal involving Bo Xilai, the former Chongqing party leader once seen as a candidate for top office. |
| His wife has been jailed for murdering a British businessman and he is expected to face trial on corruption-related charges. | His wife has been jailed for murdering a British businessman and he is expected to face trial on corruption-related charges. |
| Across China, meanwhile, recent cases of official corruption have stoked public anger and there have been a series of high-profile mass protests focusing on land grabs and environmental issues. | Across China, meanwhile, recent cases of official corruption have stoked public anger and there have been a series of high-profile mass protests focusing on land grabs and environmental issues. |
| On the internet, thousands of people have left comments appealing for better measures to fight corruption on official websites launched for the congress by the three major party mouthpieces - Xinhua news agency, People's Daily and China Central Television (CCTV). | On the internet, thousands of people have left comments appealing for better measures to fight corruption on official websites launched for the congress by the three major party mouthpieces - Xinhua news agency, People's Daily and China Central Television (CCTV). |
| Economic growth has also slowed in recent months and the wealth gap is an issue of great concern, as is China's ageing population. | Economic growth has also slowed in recent months and the wealth gap is an issue of great concern, as is China's ageing population. |
| Mr Hu said a new model for economic growth was needed to respond to domestic and global changes. | Mr Hu said a new model for economic growth was needed to respond to domestic and global changes. |
| "On the basis of making China's development much more balanced, coordinated and sustainable, we should double its 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents (by 2020)," he said. | "On the basis of making China's development much more balanced, coordinated and sustainable, we should double its 2010 GDP and per capita income for both urban and rural residents (by 2020)," he said. |
| Amid rumbling regional tensions over territorial rows in the East China and South China Sea, Mr Hu said the nation should "resolutely safeguard" maritime rights and become a maritime power. | |
| "Active and prudent efforts" should be made to reform the political structure, he said, without giving details. | |
| 'Growing concerns' | 'Growing concerns' |
| The congress - for which no formal schedule has been revealed - will last a week and will be keenly observed for any indications of the leadership's future plans. | The congress - for which no formal schedule has been revealed - will last a week and will be keenly observed for any indications of the leadership's future plans. |
| During the congress a new central committee is selected. It then chooses the country's highest decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Politburo. | During the congress a new central committee is selected. It then chooses the country's highest decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Politburo. |
| The process takes place behind closed doors, with the make-up of the top bodies in reality decided ahead of time. | The process takes place behind closed doors, with the make-up of the top bodies in reality decided ahead of time. |
| The current Standing Committee has nine members, of whom seven including Mr Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao are expected to step down. | The current Standing Committee has nine members, of whom seven including Mr Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao are expected to step down. |
| The other two members, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, are expected to become party leader and deputy respectively. Mr Xi is also expected to take over from Mr Hu as China's president in March 2013. | The other two members, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, are expected to become party leader and deputy respectively. Mr Xi is also expected to take over from Mr Hu as China's president in March 2013. |
| Ahead of the congress there has been speculation that the number of seats on the committee will be reduced from nine to seven. | Ahead of the congress there has been speculation that the number of seats on the committee will be reduced from nine to seven. |
| Analysts say there has also been division at the very top of the leadership, with two rival factions jostling for position and influence. | Analysts say there has also been division at the very top of the leadership, with two rival factions jostling for position and influence. |
| Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, party organisation chief Li Yuanchao and Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang are thought to be the front-runners. | Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, party organisation chief Li Yuanchao and Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang are thought to be the front-runners. |
| But the exact composition of the committee will not be clear until it is formally announced next week, likely on 15 November at a plenum expected to follow the congress. | But the exact composition of the committee will not be clear until it is formally announced next week, likely on 15 November at a plenum expected to follow the congress. |
| In Beijing, more than 1.4 million volunteers have been brought in to help out with security for the congress. | |
| Transport restrictions are in place, street vendors have been told to close and even the flying of kites has reportedly been banned. | Transport restrictions are in place, street vendors have been told to close and even the flying of kites has reportedly been banned. |
| Rights group Amnesty International says more than 130 political dissidents were unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest ahead of the meeting. | |
| Are you in China, or are you Chinese living abroad? How do you feel about the leadership change? You can get in touch using the form below: | Are you in China, or are you Chinese living abroad? How do you feel about the leadership change? You can get in touch using the form below: |