The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
announced here Sunday it has worked out an overall plan guiding the
election of delegates attending the Party's 17th National
Congress.
A total of 2,220 delegates will be elected by 38 electoral units
across the country. The election will be completed by June next
year, according to the CPC Central Committee.
The number of delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress is
nearly 100 more than the figure of the 16th congress, considering
the increase of CPC members since 2002 and the need to improve the
representation of delegates at the grass-roots level, an official
with the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee told
Xinhua.
The CPC has more than 70 million party members at present,
adding six million new members since its 16th National Congress in
November 2002.
The official said the CPC Central Committee has issued a
circular on the election of delegates, which defines clearly the
division of electoral units, the makeup and qualification of
candidates and the procedures of election.
"Leaders and cadres generally should not constitute over 70
percent of the total number of delegates, while those from the
grass-roots level should not be less than 30 percent," the official
said, adding that the percentage of workers, farmers and
professionals should be improved among the delegates.
The official also noted that the proportion of female delegates
and those from ethnic groups should be higher than their respective
percentages out of the total number of Party members in the
electoral units they belong to.
"The delegates should also include a certain number of Party
members who come from new economic and social organizations," the
official said.
The 16th Central Committee of the CPC decided at its sixth
plenary session in October that the party's 17th National Congress
will be held in the second half of 2007 in Beijing.
"The delegates to the 17th National Congress of the CPC shoulder
the great trust of more than 70 million Party members. They should
represent the opinions and needs of the Party members in various
sectors and fields," the officials aid.
The official quoted the circular as saying that the delegates
should be qualified in four aspects, including closely abiding by
and implementing the Party constitution, firmly carrying out the
Party's guidelines and policies, being honest and upright and
remaining closely in touch with the public, and honestly reflecting
their opinions and demands.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2006)