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Agenda Set for Party Congress Marking Chinese Transition Agenda Set for Party Congress Marking Chinese Transition
(about 9 hours later)
BEIJING — With a robust defense of one-party rule and a vow to learn from a string of political scandals this year, a senior official on Wednesday laid out the agenda for China’s much-anticipated Communist Party Congress, which gets under way on Thursday.BEIJING — With a robust defense of one-party rule and a vow to learn from a string of political scandals this year, a senior official on Wednesday laid out the agenda for China’s much-anticipated Communist Party Congress, which gets under way on Thursday.
The weeklong congress is due to cap a long and at times fractious transition from the current leadership of Hu Jintao to his presumed successor, Xi Jinping. If all goes according to plan, Mr. Xi and half a dozen other top leaders will be presented to the public next Thursday. The weeklong congress is expected to cap a long and at times fractious transition from the current leadership of Hu Jintao to his presumed successor, Xi Jinping. If all goes according to plan, Mr. Xi and half a dozen other top leaders will be presented to the public next Thursday.
Officially, the new team is to be selected in the coming week by the 2,280 delegates participating in this congress, the 18th in the party’s 91-year history. Delegates are also scheduled to discuss a work report that is to lay out in broad strokes the country’s future course over the next five years, and approve it along with a report on anticorruption measures.Officially, the new team is to be selected in the coming week by the 2,280 delegates participating in this congress, the 18th in the party’s 91-year history. Delegates are also scheduled to discuss a work report that is to lay out in broad strokes the country’s future course over the next five years, and approve it along with a report on anticorruption measures.
In fact, much of what will go on during the congress has already been decided. The delegates are voted on by lower-ranking members but based on guidance provided by higher-ups, a process known as “democratic centralism.” So too the work and corruption reports, which will be discussed by the delegates but are not expected to be substantially altered before being approved. In fact, much of what will go on during the congress has already been decided. The delegates are voted on by lower-ranking members but based on guidance provided by higher-ups, a process known as “democratic centralism.” So, too, the work and corruption reports, which will be discussed by the delegates but are not expected to be substantially altered before being approved.
At a news conference on Wednesday, the congress’s spokesman and deputy head of Communist Party propaganda, Cai Mingzhao, defended this system as one that allows members to express their views in a controlled setting.At a news conference on Wednesday, the congress’s spokesman and deputy head of Communist Party propaganda, Cai Mingzhao, defended this system as one that allows members to express their views in a controlled setting.
“We must combine centralism on the basis of democracy, with democracy under centralized guidance so that we will create a political situation in the party in which we have both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom, both unity of will and personal ease of mind,” Mr. Cai said.“We must combine centralism on the basis of democracy, with democracy under centralized guidance so that we will create a political situation in the party in which we have both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom, both unity of will and personal ease of mind,” Mr. Cai said.
He also said the Communist Party had earned the right to rule China.He also said the Communist Party had earned the right to rule China.
“The leading position of the Communist Party in China is a decision made by history and by the people,” Mr. Cai said. “Political system reform must suit China’s national reality.”“The leading position of the Communist Party in China is a decision made by history and by the people,” Mr. Cai said. “Political system reform must suit China’s national reality.”
Mr. Cai seemed to pour cold water on widespread reports that the party was planning to reform its internal elections, for example by having more candidates than slots for top bodies. That would allow delegates to vote out unpopular leaders. He said votes would be secret and some multicandidate elections would take place but all would be “in accordance with the electoral method adopted by the congress.” Mr. Cai seemed to pour cold water on widespread reports that the party was planning to reform its internal elections, for example by having more candidates than slots for top bodies. That would allow delegates to vote out unpopular leaders. He said votes would be secret and some multicandidate elections would take place, but all would be “in accordance with the electoral method adopted by the congress.”
That is not to say that the congress’s decisions are already widely known.That is not to say that the congress’s decisions are already widely known.
Still uncertain is who will be standing next to Mr. Xi when the top leadership is presented in a week. This group, known as the Politburo’s Standing Committee, essentially runs China. According to plan, it will include Mr. Xi and Li Keqiang, who is expected to take over as head of the government bureaucracy next year. Both men are current members of the Standing Committee. Still uncertain is who will be next to Mr. Xi when the top leadership is presented in a week. This group, known as the Politburo Standing Committee, essentially runs China.
According to plan, it will include Mr. Xi and Li Keqiang, who is expected to take over as head of the government bureaucracy next year. Both men are current members of the Standing Committee.
It is also unclear how many members the committee will have. It currently has nine posts, and is expected to be reduced to seven.It is also unclear how many members the committee will have. It currently has nine posts, and is expected to be reduced to seven.
Pundits have been speculating on who the other members will be and what various appointments might mean for China’s direction. But even last week, new names and combinations were making the rounds in Beijing, indicating that party leaders and their various factions were still vying to put forward their candidates.Pundits have been speculating on who the other members will be and what various appointments might mean for China’s direction. But even last week, new names and combinations were making the rounds in Beijing, indicating that party leaders and their various factions were still vying to put forward their candidates.
Mr. Cai also said the party had learned from the scandals surrounding two high-ranking officials: the former Politburo member Bo Xilai and the former railway minister Liu Zhijun. Both have been accused of corruption, although Mr. Bo is also accused of covering up the murder of a British businessman. “The lessons are profound,” said Mr. Cai, who added that the party would pursue strong anticorruption measures.Mr. Cai also said the party had learned from the scandals surrounding two high-ranking officials: the former Politburo member Bo Xilai and the former railway minister Liu Zhijun. Both have been accused of corruption, although Mr. Bo is also accused of covering up the murder of a British businessman. “The lessons are profound,” said Mr. Cai, who added that the party would pursue strong anticorruption measures.
Mr. Cai also said the congress would pursue reforms and work on a “master reform plan on income distribution” to more equitably divide China’s growing economy. The country has one of the biggest gaps between rich and poor in the world, leading to frequent bouts of unrest and violence.Mr. Cai also said the congress would pursue reforms and work on a “master reform plan on income distribution” to more equitably divide China’s growing economy. The country has one of the biggest gaps between rich and poor in the world, leading to frequent bouts of unrest and violence.
“In this way, we will make the fruits of reform and opening up benefit our people more and in a more equitable fashion,” Mr. Cai said.“In this way, we will make the fruits of reform and opening up benefit our people more and in a more equitable fashion,” Mr. Cai said.