Give Chinese Citizens More Say, Hu Jintao Tells Congress

The Communist party must retain its leading role but citizens should have more say, China's president, Hu Jintao, told delegates at the 17th party congress today.

In his keynote opening speech at the congress, which takes place every five years, Mr Hu said China's future was promising - and that some political loosening was possible - as long as the party maintained its unchallenged domination.

"Citizens' participation in political affairs will expand in an orderly way," he said. "Power must be exercised in the sunshine to ensure that it is exercised correctly."

Mr Hu has presided over five years of rapid growth that has made China an increasingly influential world player, its growing significance marked next year when Beijing hosts the Olympics.

But China's breakneck economic growth has spawned problems that are fueling discontent, including a widening gap between rich and poor, widespread environmental degradation and rampant corruption at senior party level.

After forcing out the former Shanghai party boss, Chen Liangyu, for corruption last year, Mr Hu warned that graft threatened the very survival of the party. Since he succeeded Jiang Zemin in 2002, Mr Hu has promoted a "harmonious society" that seeks to distribute wealth more evenly.

Mr Hu argued that firm party control and policies to share prosperity and temper growth would make China richer, stronger and more stable.

The Chinese president's "scientific outlook of development", which balances growth with environmental sustainability, are to be written into party documents, a victory for Mr Hu in a system where ideological formulas form the basis of political power.

Mr Hu spoke for more than two hours before more than 2,000 delegates in the Great Hall, which was decked out in red and draped with the hammer and sickle.

The five-yearly congress is a chance for the party leader to spell out his broad agenda, and to bring fresh recruits into the leadership.

"His comment on enhancing ways that citizens can be involved suggests that one of the ways in which you enhance stability is by getting citizens more involved in politics," said Professor David Zweig, of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The party is unlikely to loosen its grip, however. Dissidents have been detained and thousands of petitioners rounded up to stop them lobbying delegates.

Mr Hu also said he was committed to modernizing the People's Liberation Army.

"We must build strong armed forces through science and technology," he said. "In keeping with the new trends in world military affairs and the new requirements of China's development, we must promote innovation in military theory, technology, organization and development."