The election of more than 2,000 delegates to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been completed. The delegates' names have been published by the news media in accordance with the CPC Central Committee rules.

The People's Daily Overseas Edition interviewed a leading official at the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee about the elections. The nine-month elections started in October 2006 and ended this June, the unnamed official said. A total of 2,217 delegates from 38 electoral units nationwide were elected to the upcoming 17th CPC National Congress.

The CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to the election of delegates for the upcoming CPC national congress. Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, gave important instructions with regard to the elections. The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its Standing Committee held respective meetings to consider the matter. They have defined the guiding ideology, principles and policies concerning the election of Party delegates. By drawing on the experience of recent CPC national congresses, and especially that of the 16th CPC National Congress in 2002, a series of crucial measures have been adopted in the spirit of keeping up with the times and persisting in reform and innovation, all serving as guidelines for the elections. These measures included further expanding inner-Party democracy, improving the delegates' structure and electoral procedures, establishing rigid qualifications for Party delegates and raising competency standards.

Generally speaking, the delegates elected from various units are outstanding Party members. They are politically qualified, enjoy public recognition, have fine ideology, fine work style and fine lifestyles, have made outstanding achievements in their careers, and are capable of discussing political matters.

More Grassroots Delegates

CPC organizations at all levels stressed broad representative nature in the elections, said an official of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. A relatively balanced mix of delegates was elected, with their composition conformed to the requirements set by the CPC Central Committee. The elections are characterized by the following:

First, there was a rise in the proportion of delegates from grassroots levels. Of the elected delegates, 28.4 percent are grassroots Party members. Grassroots delegates account for more than 30 percent of all delegates from the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions and from Central Government-owned enterprises based in Beijing, marking an increase in ratio compared with that of the previous CPC national congress.

Second, the delegates represent all sectors  with a fairly balanced distribution. Delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress come from all trades and professions in economy, science and technology, national defense, political and legislative sectors, education, news media, culture, public health and sports. They are workers, farmers, soldiers, professionals, public servants and representatives of Party members in new economic and social organizations.

Third, there is an increase in the number and proportion of women delegates. There are 445 female delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress, 63 more than the number of the previous congress. They account for 20.1 percent of the total number of delegates, 0.4 percentage points higher than the ratio of women Party members to the total number of Party members.

Fourth, there is a rise in the number and proportion of delegates from minority ethnic groups. Among the delegates elected, there are 242 people from minority ethnic groups— 12 more than at the previous congress— that make up 10.9 percent of the total, or 4.5 percentage points higher than the ratio of ethnic minority CPC members to the total number of CPC members. Of China's 55 minority ethnic groups, 42 have their own delegates.

Fifth, there is an increase in the number of middle-aged and young delegates. Among the delegates elected, 1,561 are under the age of 55, representing 70.4 percent of the total, or 7.2 percentage points higher than the ratio for the previous congress. A total of 416 delegates are under the age of 45, accounting for 18.8 percent of the total, or 0.8 percentage points higher than that of the previous congress.

Sixth, the delegates have higher levels of education. Of the delegates, 2,068 have at least a junior college education, accounting for 93.3 percent of the total, or 1.6 percentage points higher than that of the previous congress. Those having a senior high school (secondary technical school) education or below numbered 149, accounting for 6.7 percent of the total, or 1.6 percentage points lower than that of the previous congress.

Strict Electoral Procedures

All delegates have been elected according to set procedures, according to the official. Specifically, they were recommended and nominated by the grassroots Party organizations and Party members and designated as delegate candidates with the consensus of the majority.

The CPC organizations have carefully reviewed their performance while taking into account the opinions of the CPC organizations in their agencies where they work, the opinions of their colleagues, and the views of CPC discipline inspection and supervision bodies. They are also elected at CPC congresses or meetings in their electoral units.

The elected delegates have to pass a qualification check by the Delegate Qualification Review Committee of the 17th CPC National Congress to receive final approval to attend the congress. The CPC Central Committee will invite some retired Party leaders to attend the congress as special delegates.

The election of delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress is a successful practice of the principles of upholding inner-Party democracy and following the Party's mass line, according to the official.

First, the number of candidates for delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress is at least 15 percent greater than the number of delegates to be elected at various electoral units, a 5 percentage points increase over the rate of the 16th CPC National Congress. The expanded scope of choice has ensured the best qualified candidates are elected.

Second, the recommended delegate candidates of counties (or county-level cities) and cities (or prefectures) are determined at the plenary sessions of the CPC local committees with the nomination of the standing committees of the CPC local committees. Previously, the standing committees of the CPC local committees directly determined them. This change has brought greater democracy to the process of recommending preliminary candidates and helped to better reflect the will of Party organizations at various levels and of Party members.

Third, preliminary delegate candidates are made known to the public in an appropriate way in their electoral units to solicit opinions from Party members and the masses and subject them to public supervision.

Fourth, before selecting the delegate candidates at the plenary sessions of the CPC committees of provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, provincial-level organizations of non-Communist parties, federations of industry and commerce and representatives of people without party affiliation have been consulted. Those not belonging to the CPC believe that this unprecedented practice has shown the CPC's sincerity and confidence.

(China.org.cn)