Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) warned that the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) faced severe “growing pains” as it turned 90 yesterday, saying that corruption and alienation from China’s masses could erode public support.
However, in a speech on the anniversary of its 1921 founding, Hu gave no sign that the party intended to loosen the iron grip on political power it has maintained for more than six tumultuous decades.
Hu capped months of orchestrated anniversary build-up by praising the party for leading China out of civil war and chaos, but made clear that pitfalls lie ahead as the party strikes an ungainly balance between economic openness and political rigidity.
Photo: AFP
“The entire party must clearly see that, with the deep changes in the world, national and party situations, we face many new problems and challenges to improve the party’s leadership and rule and to strengthen the ability to resist corruption and risks,” Hu said.
Hu, who has headed the party for nearly a decade, singled out rampant corruption as a clear danger to the CCP’s legitimacy.
Corruption by CCP officials is routinely named in opinion polls as a top source of public discontent and Hu said the anti-graft fight was the key to “winning or losing public support and the life or death of the party.”
“Corruption will cost the party the support and trust of the people,” he said.
Hu delivered the speech in a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People — the Stalinist-style monolith at the heart of Beijing — that was attended by thousands of party leaders and members and broadcast live on state television.
The party has sought to fan enthusiasm in the anniversary run-up through an official outpouring of nostalgia for the nation’s communist past.
The propaganda blitz has included a stream of laudatory media articles, the singing of “red” songs from communist China’s early years, museum exhibitions and the release of a film glorifying the party’s birth.
China also launched a high-speed rail line linking Beijing and Shanghai and opened the world’s longest cross-sea bridge just ahead of the party fete.
Hu conceded that “the whole party is confronted with growing pains,” warning that many party officials were “incompetent” and “divorced from the people.”
“It is more urgent than ever for the party to impose discipline on its members,” he said.
Hu vowed a more merit-based personnel system and a drive to recruit talented young members into the 80 million-strong party, about 75 percent of whose card-holders are more than 35 years old.
“[Young members] represent the future and hope of the party,” Hu said.
Hu paid lip service to democracy and public participation in policy-making, but made clear this would be done under the “leadership of the party” and stressed “stability,” signifying no change in the current set-up.
Meanwhile, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin (江澤民) failed to appear at celebrations yesterday, following a Hong Kong media report saying he was ill.
Jiang was not seen among numerous other retired party and national leaders gathered for the gala, including former premiers Li Peng (李鵬) and Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基).
Hong Kong-based Phoenix television had reported last Saturday on its Web site that Jiang, 84, fell ill earlier this year and has not fully recovered.
“In April, former president Jiang Zemin was hit by a sudden and very serious illness,” the report said.
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