Chinese President Promises Economic Growth, Political Reform

China’s President Hu Jintao has opened the 17th Communist Party Congress in Beijing, promising economic growth and political reform, while stressing the need for continued one-party rule.

In his address to the Congress Monday, Mr. Hu said political reform must continue, but he stressed that the Communist Party will remain in charge.

The official Xinhua news agency says)Mr. Hu pledged to allow more public participation in politics and promote the “people’s democracy.” He also said the party will promote more non-party members to leading positions in government.

Mr. Hu warned that the party would not tolerate corruption, and he said the work of stamping out corruption was crucial to maintaining its popular support.

The Communist Party has been rocked in recent years by high-level corruption cases, including the arrest of a party boss in Shanghai.

Mr. Hu said China needs to pursue a path of balanced economic growth, while conserving energy and protecting the environment. He predicted that by the year 2020, the country will have quadrupled its gross domestic product from the year 2000.

Mr. Hu acknowledged that China’s huge growth has come at what he called an “excessively high cost” to the environment and natural resources.

The seven-day Congress sets Chinese policy for the next five years, and will select new leaders.

The more than 2,000 party delegates attending are expected to re-elect Mr. Hu to another five-year term. They will also choose nine new members for the powerful Political Bureau Standing Committee, the party’s executive organization.

The Congress is taking place at a time of increasing social unrest in China. Security is tight in Beijing, with reports of dissidents and other activists being detained to prevent unrest during the meeting.

By VOA News