The 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) kicked off its second plenary session Monday to discuss the restructuring of government departments and candidates for state leaders.

Restructuring of the State Council departments, elections and appointments of state leaders, including the president, parliamentary chairman and premier, will be on the agenda for next week's National People's Congress (NPC).

The CPC Central Committee began a three-day session to discuss the issues in advance. Tabled with the CPC meeting on Monday were a draft opinion on the reform of administrative system and a draft plan on the restructuring of central departments under the State Council.

The meeting will also discuss candidates for state leaders who will be proposed to the first session of the 11th NPC, as well as candidates for leaders of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The candidates' lists will be submitted to the committees' first sessions, which will be held on March 5, March 3, respectively.

According to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held Friday, deepening government reform is an inevitable requirement for developing a socialist market economy and socialist democracy.

"Government reform must be pushed forward unswervingly and implemented in phases with the aim of building an efficient and service-oriented government," the meeting was told.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2008)