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China's leader targets corruption China's leader targets corruption
(about 2 hours later)
The five-yearly congress of the Chinese Communist Party has opened in Beijing with a tough message from President Hu Jintao to more than 2,000 delegates. The five-yearly congress of the Chinese Communist Party has opened in Beijing with a tough message from President Hu Jintao on corruption.
Mr Hu said the party's "very survival" depended on "resolutely punishing" corrupt officials. Mr Hu said that the party's "very survival" depended on "resolutely punishing" corrupt officials.
He said that despite economic growth there were many social and environmental concerns facing China.He said that despite economic growth there were many social and environmental concerns facing China.
President Hu is expected to consolidate his grip on power but a new generation of leaders for 2012 is set to emerge. Mr Hu is set to consolidate his power at the congress, which will also indicate likely leaders for 2012.
Spreading benefitsSpreading benefits
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says President Hu's message was that government efforts had so far fallen short of what was required and the authorities must do more on areas such as the environment and official corruption. The five-yearly congress is the Communist Party's most important political event. It is at the week-long meeting that the political agenda for the next five years will be approved.
Speaking in front of more than 2,000 delegates in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Mr Hu said that a changing China faced both unprecedented opportunities and unprecedented challenges.
Our economic growth is realised at an excessively high cost of resources and the environment Hu Jintao
Ending corruption, he said, was a major task.
"Resolutely punishing and effectively preventing corruption bears on the popular support for the party and on its very survival," he warned.
In recent months, several high-profile officials have been caught in bribery scandals, while corruption among lower-level local officials is seen as a key cause of discontent for China's poor.
Mr Hu acknowledged the growing divide between rich and poor, saying the party had to ensure China's wealth was distributed more evenly.
There is heavy security outside the Great Hall of the PeopleThere is heavy security outside the Great Hall of the People
A number of senior politicians have been caught in bribery scandals in recent years. "There are still a considerable number of impoverished and low-income people in both urban and rural areas, and it has become more difficult to accommodate the interests of all sides," he said.
The speech was a frank admission that the government had failed to tackle some of the major problems facing the country, our correspondent says. The Chinese leader also promised development policies that protected the environment.
Mr Hu also delivered a strong message on Taiwan, saying China would "never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means". "Our economic growth is realised at an excessively high cost of resources and the environment," he said.
However, he said Beijing would "make every effort with utmost sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification of the two sides". The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says Mr Hu's speech was a frank admission that the government had failed to tackle some of the major problems facing the country.
The president warned there would be a period of "high danger" over Taiwan in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. New leaders
The congress, declared open by the second ranking member in the party's elite Politburo Standing Committee, Wu Bangguo, will approve the political agenda for the next five years. During the congress, Mr Hu is expected to further entrench policies aimed at spreading the benefits of economic growth more equally across society, analysts say.
We will never copy the Western model Li Dongsheng,congress spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7041660.stm">China's elusive leader MAJOR THEMES OF THE CONGRESS promoting 'social harmony''scientific development'building a 'well-off society'consolidation of President Hu's position
Our correspondent says President Hu is expected to further entrench policies aimed at spreading the benefits of economic growth more equally across society. His policies of "scientific development" and "social harmony" are expected to gain ground.
On the eve of the meeting, the spokesman for the 17th congress, Li Dongsheng, said China would never have Western-style democracy. But the congress is also about selecting China's leaders for the next five years, and beyond.
Mr Li said: "Political reform is an important component of our comprehensive reform. We have advanced political reform without pause."
But he said: "We will never copy the Western model."
BBC China correspondent James Reynolds says Mr Hu is widely expected to get a second and final term of office but is also likely to promote a probable successor to take over from him in 2012.BBC China correspondent James Reynolds says Mr Hu is widely expected to get a second and final term of office but is also likely to promote a probable successor to take over from him in 2012.
There has been widespread speculation about who will be elected to the politburo's elite standing committee.There has been widespread speculation about who will be elected to the politburo's elite standing committee.
Li Keqiang, the current chief of Liaoning province, and Shanghai boss Xi Jinping have both been tipped to join the committee.Li Keqiang, the current chief of Liaoning province, and Shanghai boss Xi Jinping have both been tipped to join the committee.