Pacific nations reject China security pact

Yahoo – AFP, Frank Bainimarama, 30 May 2022

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that that Beijing is willing to
work with other major powers in the Pacific region to help island nations
develop (AFP/Vaitogi Asuisui MATAFEO) (Vaitogi Asuisui MATAFEO)

Ten Pacific island nations rebuffed China's push for a wide-ranging regional security pact Monday, amid worries the proposal was designed to pull them into Beijing's orbit. 

Talks in Fiji between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and leaders from the small island nations failed to reach an agreement, in a high-profile diplomatic setback for Beijing. 

China is offering to radically ramp up its activities in the South Pacific, directly challenging the influence of the United States and its allies in the strategically vital region. 

The proposed pact would see Beijing train Pacific island police, become involved in cybersecurity, expand political ties, conduct sensitive marine mapping and gain greater access to natural resources on land and in the water. 

As an enticement, Beijing is offering millions of dollars in financial assistance, the prospect of a potentially lucrative China-Pacific islands free trade agreement and access to China's vast market of 1.4 billion people. 

Behind the scenes, Pacific leaders have voiced deep misgivings about the offer. 

In a recent letter to fellow leaders, David Panuelo, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, warned the offer was "disingenuous" and would "ensure Chinese influence in government" and "economic control" of key industries. 

A more soft-spoken public rebuke came after the talks, when leaders said they could not agree to Beijing's proposed "Common Development Vision" due to a lack of regional consensus. 

"As always, we put consensus first," co-host and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said after the meeting, indicating that broad accord would be needed before inking any "new regional agreements". 

Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia were said to be among those concerned about the proposals, along with Taiwan-recognising Palau, which was not invited. 

"We would rather deal with our own security issues with China", Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Soroi Eoe told AFP, indicating concern about any region-wide pact. 

Chinese officials -- working frantically to secure support during Wang's 10-day diplomatic blitz of the region -- admitted their entreaties had fallen short. 

"There has been general support from the 10 countries," Chinese ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo told reporters in Suva. "But of course, there are some concerns on some specific issues and we have agreed that these two documents will be discussed afterwards until we have reached an agreement." 

Speaking from Suva, Wang made the face-saving announcement that the 10 countries had agreed to memorandums of understanding on China's "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative. 

The two sides will "continue to have ongoing and in-depth discussions and consultations to shape more consensus on cooperation", he said, urging those worried by Beijing's intentions not to be "too anxious and don't be too nervous". 

The full proposal has not been made public, but was leaked to media including AFP ahead of Monday's meeting. 

China has said it will release a "position paper" highlighting the proposals to the public in the coming weeks. 

Balancing act 

Western powers have bristled against China's move into the region, with the US State Department warning South Pacific nations to be wary of "shadowy, vague deals with little transparency". 

Australia joined the United States in urging a spurning of China's attempts to expand its security reach deep into the region, with the country's new foreign minister warning of the "consequences" of such deals. 

Many in the Pacific are uneasy at being thrust to the centre of a geopolitical tussle between China and US allies. 

Most capitals are keen to maintain amicable ties with China, balancing relations between Beijing, Washington, Canberra and Wellington, while focusing on the more urgent threat of climate change and day-to-day economic issues. 

During a joint appearance with Wang, Bainimarama hit out at those engaged in "geopolitical point-scoring". 

It "means less than little to anyone whose community is slipping beneath the rising seas, whose job has been lost to a pandemic or whose family is impacted by the rapid rise in the price of commodities", he said. 

All but a few of the Pacific Islands are low-lying and deeply vulnerable to sea-level rises caused by climate change. 

Before the meeting, President Xi Jinping sent a message that China would be "a good brother" to the region and that they shared a "common destiny", according to state broadcaster CCTV.

China, Taiwan leaders join hands at historic summit

Yahoo – AFP, Tom Hancock, 7 Nov 2015

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and his counterpart from Taiwan, President Ma

 Ying-jeou shake hands during their meeting at Shangrila hotel in Singapore on

November 7, 2015 (AFP Photo/Roslan Rahman)

The presidents of China and Taiwan reached across decades of Cold War-era estrangement and rivalry Saturday to exchange a historic handshake and warm words in the first summit since the two sides' traumatic 1949 split.

China's Xi Jinping and Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou shook hands for more than a minute and smiled for a mass of reporters before their talks in Singapore in scenes considered unthinkable until recently.

They later sat down across a table from each other, with Xi praising the event as opening a "historic chapter in our relations" and repeating China's oft-expressed desire for eventual reunification.

Pro-independent activists from the Taiwan

 Solidarity Union hold a portrait of Taiwan

 President Ma Ying-jeou's before tearing it

 apart, at the Taoyuan airport on 

November 8, 2015 (AFP Photo/Sam Yeh)

"We are brothers connected by flesh even if our bones are broken. We are a family whose blood is thicker than water," Xi said.

He added that "no matter what kind of winds and rains are experienced by compatriots on the two sides, no matter how long divisions last, there is no power that can separate us."

Despite the apparent warmth, the hour-long meeting's lasting significance remains to be seen.

No agreements were announced between two sides that still refuse to formally recognise each other's legitimacy and Ma's moves face significant opposition at home.

But the encounter is undeniably historic: the previous occasion was in 1945, when Communist revolutionary leader Mao Zedong met with China's nationalist president Chiang Kai-shek in a failed reconciliation attempt.

The eventual Communist takeover forced Chiang's armies and about two million followers to flee to Taiwan, then a backwater island province, leaving a national rupture that has preoccupied both sides ever since.

'Mutual respect'

"Behind us there is more than six decades of cross-strait separation. Now before our eyes are the common fruits of the policy of replacing opposition with dialogue," Ma told Xi, in the unexpectedly cordial encounter.

Ma later told reporters he proposed the establishment of a hotline between to the two sides and that Xi responded positively.

He also raised issues sensitive to Taiwan's people, including the arsenal of Chinese missiles aimed at Taiwan, and China's policy of marginalising the island diplomatically.

"We hope these things do not continue," said Ma, calling for "mutual respect."

Xi did not address reporters, leaving that to a lower-ranking official.

Supporters of Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou display banners that read, "Support 

Ma Ying-jeou to open the chapter!", near the Sungshan Air force Base in Taipei, on 

November 7, 2015 (AFP Photo/Sam Yeh)

Ma has expressed hope the meeting could be a step toward normalising cross-strait relations, but no further plans for closer contact emerged.

Washington welcomed the meeting and called for "further progress by both sides toward building ties, reducing tensions, and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Analysts said there is no guarantee any glow will last, especially with Ma out of office soon, and his ruling party expected to lose in January polls to an opposition that distrusts China.

"This meeting will remain a historic moment but everything will depend on the result of the elections in Taiwan," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University.

"Xi's very pro-reunification language... risks alarming more than one person on the island."

Though politically divided for decades, business and investment ties have flowered.

Since taking office in 2008, Ma's Beijing-friendly policies have borne new fruit, including a boom in Chinese visitors to the island, more than 20 trade agreements -- and Saturday's summit.

But many in Taiwan, a rambunctious democracy, are deeply uneasy at drawing too close to the Communist-ruled mainland orbit, and reunification remains a distant prospect.

"After watching the Ma-Xi meeting this afternoon on TV, I believe most Taiwanese people, like me, feel very disappointed," the presidential candidate of the opposition Democratic People's Party, Tsai Ing-wen, said in a statement.

"We really regret that the only result from the Ma-Xi meeting is an attempt to put people's choices on cross-strait relations in a box, using a political framework on an international stage."

Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong (L) toasts Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek

 in Chongqing in 1945 (top); Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan President Ma 

Ying-jeou meet in Singapore on November 7, 2015 (AFP Photo/-, File / Mohd Rasfan)

Hundreds of opponents of the summit massed outside Ma's office in Taipei Saturday, condemning the meeting and Xi's "family" comments.

Mister, Mister

Lingering tensions were in plain view at the summit, where the leaders addressed each other as "mister" rather than "president" -- which would have legitimised their governments.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a wayward province and this disdain surfaced in China's coverage of the event.

After Xi finished addressing Ma at the meeting's opening, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV cut away to a studio discussion as video of Ma speaking rolled, but with no sound.

Opponents at home accuse Ma, who leaves office soon, of using the summit to boost his ruling Kuomintang's (KMT) flagging chances at the polls.

Some analysts feel China also finally granted the meeting, long sought by Ma, to help boost the KMT, which Beijing favours over the more independence-minded opposition.

But they warn the strategy could backfire with anxious Taiwanese voters if China is seen meddling in the election.

Out on a limb: countries that have direct diplomatic relations with #Taiwan pic.twitter.com/m2VfULRCTR

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) November 6, 2015

PLA to cut troop numbers by 300,000, says Xi

Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-09-03

Xi Jinping oversees the parade to mark of the 70th anniversary of victory
in World War II, Sept. 3. (Photo/Xinhua)

China will cut the number of its troops by 300,000, President Xi Jinping announced Thursday.

It will be the country's fourth cut in troop numbers since the start of the reform and opening-up era under Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.

Xi made the announcement while delivering a speech at the parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, which featured some 12,000 PLA troops with honor guards from 17 other countries. China's most powerful weaponry, including anti-ship missiles, ICBMs and military aircraft were also on display.

In 1985, the government decided to cut 1 million troops in an effort to focus on accelerating economic development and strengthening the quality of the PLA's soldiery.

In 1987, the troop numbers of the People's Liberation Army was reduced for the first time from its original 4.2 million. By 1990, the number of troops was again lowered to 3.2 million.

In 1997, the PLA decided to reduce its troop numbers further by 500,000 within three years, reducing the total to 2.5 million.

Between 2003 and 2005, a third cut of 200,000 downsized the number of troops to 2.3 million, cutting the armed forces to their smallest size in the PRC's history.

China's military power compared to the US, Russia, India, South Korea and Japan pic.twitter.com/XnpNw35Rfs

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) 3 september 2015

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M503 route a path of peace: TAO chief

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2015-03-06

Zhang Zhijun talks to the press. (Photo/CNS)

Zhang Zhijun, minister of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the M503 flight route that goes along the Taiwan Strait's median line is a path of peace between Taiwan and China, but refused to reveal when the route will be implemented, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.

During a press conference with reporters on Thursday, the official said the route will only be used by civilian aircraft and is set up to resolve the problem of crowded airspace around the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas. The aircraft will fly closer to China and within the Shanghai Flight Information Region, said Zhang, who added that the International Civil Aviation Organization has approved the route and assigned a code for it.

He said Taiwanese and Chinese officials reached an initial agreement over the issue on March 2 in Shanghai, when Chinese authorities agreed to a delay in the adoption of the M503 route and the three feeder routes W121, W122 and W123. W121 connects with Dongshan, W122 connects with Fuzhou, and W123 with Xiamen.

Zhang said the route will be a good thing for both Taiwanese and Chinese travelers and that commentators should not read too much into the politics of it.

In January, China declared the plan to launch the north-south M503 route without consultation with Taiwan along with the three other east-west feeder routes, which immediately drew protest from the Taiwanese government.

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China must advance reform, stick to opening-up, says premier

English.news.cn   2012-09-29  

Chinese top leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun,
 Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang attend a reception marking
 the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Great
Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2012. (Xinhua/Ju Ping)

  

BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- China must steadfastly advance institutional reforms in economic, political, cultural, social and other fields and stick to the opening-up policy, Premier Wen Jiabao said here on Saturday.

Addressing a reception marking the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Wen said "there is still a long way to go" before China becomes a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers a speech at a 

reception held by the State Council marking the 63rd

 anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of

China  at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, 

capital of China. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

President Hu Jintao, senior leaders Wu Bangguo, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, Zhou Yongkang and more than 1,200 Chinese and foreign personages were present at the reception.

"We must promote socialist democracy and rule of law, uphold social equity and justice, improve the educational and moral standards of our people and achieve freedom and all-round development of the people," said the premier.

Wen said, "sixty-three years ago today, the Chinese nation put an end to a century of humiliation and suffering in its modern history, and a new China stood up in the east of the world."

"Since then and especially since the launch of reform and opening-up, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have been united as one and worked tenaciously under the leadership of the CPC, bringing tremendous changes to the country," he said.

"The Chinese economy has maintained fast growth; people's livelihood has improved markedly; and China's overall national strength and international influence have grown significantly. Every Chinese has reason to take pride in these achievements," the premier said.

"While recognizing achievements, we must always keep a cool head," he said.

The country is in an important period of strategic opportunities for development, Wen said, stressing that the power of reform and opening-up as well as the persevering spirit of the Chinese nation will lead China to a brighter future.

As to the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the premier said that it will be an important meeting "for us to build on past achievements and open up new prospects for future development."

He stressed that "we will unswervingly follow the basic line of the Party and stay committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics."

Wen also reiterated the government's policies on Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, vowing to maintain long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao and to promote peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

On foreign affairs, the premier said that China will pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2012 shows the scene of a reception held by the

 State Council of China marking the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's

 Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China.

(Xinhua/Ding Lin)

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China appreciates Obama's "positive remarks" on ties

English.news.cn 2010-03-30 11:35:05

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China has expressed appreciation over the "positive remarks" made by U.S. President Barack Obama and other officials on Sino-U.S. relations.

China valued the reaffirmation by the U.S. side on its commitment to China on the Taiwan and Tibet-related issues, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a press release Tuesday.

U.S. President Obama said on Tuesday Beijing time that the United States was devoted to working with China to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive U.S.-China relationship for the 21st century.

The U.S. would take concrete actions to steadily establish a partnership with China to deal with common challenges, said Obama when presented with the credentials from the new Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Zhang Yesui.

Also on Tuesday Beijing time, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg told a news briefing in Washington that the U.S. position on the one-China policy remained unchanged.

"It (the one-China policy) serves us very well. We have consistently through Democratic and Republican administrations understood those agreements and principles be the foundation of building an ever stronger relationship (with China)," Steinberg said.

Steinberg also reaffirmed that the United States considered Tibet to be a part of China and did not support "Tibet independence."

In Tuesday's press release, Qin said that Sino-U.S. relations had developed positively since the Obama administration took office.

However, bilateral ties underwent undue stress caused by the announcement of new U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in January and President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama in February, which Qin said was not in the common interest of both countries.

"China and the United States are both countries with important influence in the world," he said. "A sound China-U.S. relationship is in the basic interests of the two peoples and is conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world."

He reiterated that the Chinese government always attached great importance to relations with the U.S. and was committed to developing long-term, healthy and stable Sino-U.S. relations.

At the end of the press release, he again called on both sides to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and follow the principle and spirits of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and the Sino-U.S. joint declaration.

"China hopes to work with the U.S. to strengthen dialogue, communication and cooperation and handle sensitive issues appropriately, so as to make joint efforts to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive Sino-U.S. relationship for the 21st century," he said.

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India floods leave 1.5 million homeless: officials

Google/(AFP)

Indian men paddle a 'shalti', a raft made from palm trees, to reach their flooded village in Ghatal (AFP)

BANGALORE, India — Devastating floods that killed more than 230 people in southern India have left close to 1.5 million others homeless, officials said Monday.

The floods, triggered by days of torrential rain, have inundated swathes of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra states, causing mass evacuations and leaving hundreds of thousands dependent on relief camps.

The death toll on Monday stood at 233, with 170 killed in Karnataka, 37 in Andhra Pradesh and 26 in Maharashtra.

With the rains showing signs of easing, officials said relief efforts were now focused on providing shelter to survivors whose homes had been wiped out.

In Karnataka, one million people were homeless, of which more than 350,000 people had taken shelter in 1,200 relief camps in the worst-hit northern districts, H.V. Parashwanath, secretary of the state's disaster monitoring agency, told AFP.

"We have commenced a survey to identify the remaining homeless for resettling and rehabilitation," he said.

At least 200,000 homes were destroyed in Karnataka and almost 1,500 villages were partially or completely submerged, Parashwanath added.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said around 475,000 people had been evacuated from their homes.

Water discharged from the river Krishna threatened to engulf parts of the city of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, which was entirely cut off from the state capital Hyderabad after police closed the main road connecting the two.

Road transportation and train services were also hit.

The head of India's Congress Party Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram made an inspection flight over the affected areas in both states on Monday.

In Maharashtra, S.C. Mohanty, head of the state's disaster management cell, said the situation was now "close to normal," after thousands had been evacuated from southern coastal areas.

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China and Taiwan in landmark deal

BBC 

China and Taiwan have signed landmark agreements to improve direct trade and transport links, following the highest-level Chinese visit in decades. 

The agreements are set to triple the number of weekly direct passenger flights and allow cargo shipments between ports in China and Taiwan. 

They also aim to improve the postal service and food safety. 

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan though they have been separately governed since 1949. 

The agreements were announced on the second day of a five-day visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, China's top official for handling relations with Taiwan. 

Previously, sovereignty issues involving vessels and crews forced costly detours through third countries, while China-Taiwan flights were forced to stop in Hong Kong or Macau.

Under the agreements: 

• Direct charter flights will increase from 36 to 108, and can operate daily rather than four days out of seven
  
• Routes will be shortened and private business jet flights will be allowed
  
• Direct cargo shipments will be allowed between 11 Taiwan sea ports and 63 in China, tax free
  
• Sixty direct cargo flights will be allowed per month
  
• Direct postal links will be expanded to improve delivery time, currently up to 10 days
  
• Food safety alerts between the countries will be set up.
  

 

Taiwan has the diplomatic recognition of a handful of states. 

But since Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and the defeated Kuomintang fled to Taiwan, China has regarded it as a breakaway province which it has threatened to reunify using force.

Taipei protests 

The latest trade agreements come after the two sides held their first, high-level meeting in a decade in June this year, in Beijing.

The improvement in relations follows the election of President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan. 

However, Mr Ma's overtures of ending decades of political rivalry with Beijing have sparked fierce protests in Taiwan, including accusations that he is "selling out" to the mainland.

Pro-independence groups staged small protests around Taipei to coincide with Mr Chen's visit, waving flags and banners.

Thousands of police were deployed to ensure Mr Chen's safety, after his deputy Zhang Mingqing was jostled and knocked to the ground by protesters during a visit to Taiwan in October.

Indonesia, China to maintain good political ties

Beijing (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and China were expected to maintain close political ties in 2008 as they could show mutual respect on their respective sovereignty and non-interference in their respective internal affairs, an envoy has said.

In 2007, Indonesia and China had signed a number of documents on bilateral cooperation and they would enhance the cooperation this year, Indonesia`s Ambassador to China, Sudrajat, said here Sunday.

In the political sector, Indonesian and Chinese Defence Ministers respectively Juwono Sudarsono and Cao Gangchuan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Beijing in November, 2007.

In the military field, Indonesia and China had established cooperation in training military personnel, in defence, joint exercises, joint production and technology transfer as well as exchange of visits.

The bilateral cooperation also covered intelligence exchange, technology and science.

The good bilateral relations are maintained also due to Indonesia`s consistency in upholding its One China Policy with regard to the Taiwan issue, Sudrajat said.

The Indonesian government understands that the Taiwan issue is a sensitive question to the Chinese government, and the Indonesian government has affirmed that it would not interfere in China`s internal affairs, he said.

He said the relations between Indonesia and China were once rather disrupted in 2006 due to a misunderstanding about the Taiwanese president visiting Indonesia`s island of Batam.

"The problem has now been settled and (the two countries) had come to an understanding in 2007," he added.

The ambassador said that in 2008, Indonesia would remain consistent with upholding its One China Policy, he said.

He pointed out that the Indonesian government has informed the Chinese government that at least 50 Indonesians worked in Taiwan and the trade volume between Taiwan and Indonesia is significant.

Thus, he added, it was natural that Indonesian officials visited Taiwan and met their Taiwanese counterparts as they only talked about trade and manpower affairs.

"Indonesia is very careful in selective in implementing bilateral ties with Taiwan," he said.

He was optimistic that this year`s political relations between Indonesia and China would continue running well and hoped there would be no problems dirupting the normal relations between the two countries in the coming years.

China communists 'falling short'

Chinese President Hu Jintao has said in a keynote speech that the Communist Party he leads has fallen short of the people's expectations.

"We must guard against arrogance and rashness, preserve plain living and struggle hard"

By Michael Bristow, BBC News, Beijing

Speaking at the start of the party's 17th congress, he also lashed out at officials who were extravagant, wasteful and corrupt.

President Hu's criticism came as he assessed the party's recent performance in front of senior leaders.

The gathering is held every five years to decide policies for coming years.

Heads bowed

President Hu said: "While recognising our achievements, we must be well aware that they still fall short of the expectations of the people."

Some of the problems faced by ordinary people relate to employment, housing, social security and education, he said.

He was particularly critical of party leaders who used their position to provide for themselves, a theme President Hu has often spoken about.

"A small number of party cadres are not honest and upright," he told more than 2,200 delegates.

"[Their] extravagance, waste, corruption and other undesirable behaviour are still serious problems with them," he said.

The congress began when the country's top leaders filed out on to the podium in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, which was bedecked in red flags.

In an indication of how much sway former President Jiang Zemin still holds, he emerged immediately after President Hu and sat next to him on the podium.

A military band than played the national anthem before party leaders bowed their heads to remember the party's founding fathers.

To polite applause and with a hammer and sickle symbol behind him, President Hu then began his speech.

As well as criticising the party's performance over the previous few years, he also laid out its future plans.

One of the main goals is to build a "moderately prosperous society" by 2020.

Short on specifics

Later on Mr Hu defined that task as quadrupling the country's year 2000 per capita gross domestic product by 2020.

Mr Hu also had a warning for Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing considers part of China. The two sides split in 1949.

He said the forces of "Taiwan independence" were stepping up their efforts to separate the island from China.

"[We] will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means," he warned.

Mr Hu's speech was typical of those delivered by senior Chinese officials at these well-orchestrated gatherings.

It was laced with well-worn official phrases such as "socialism with Chinese characteristics".

It was long, but short on specifics.

Mr Hu, for example, promised to "expand socialist democracy", but did not explain exactly what that means.

On Sunday, Li Dongsheng, the spokesman for the 17th congress, said China would never adopted Western-style democracy.

But one thing appears clear. President Hu has cemented his position at the top of the party hierarchy.

His personal contribution to party theory - scientific development - was placed on a par with contributions from other top leaders.

In the speech it ranked alongside Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and ex-President Jiang's Three Represents.

Little is known about Hu Jintao beyond the brief, official biography.

But in his closing remarks, he perhaps revealed something of the man he hopes the public see him as.

"We must guard against arrogance and rashness, preserve plain living and struggle hard," he said.

MAJOR THEMES OF THE CONGRESS

promoting 'social harmony'
'scientific development'
building a 'well-off society'
consolidation of President Hu's position

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