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The 18th National Congress of the CPC concluded Wednesday, with members being elected to the Party's two major bodies, the Central Committee and Central Discipline Inspection Commission.

During his keynote address to some 2,300 delegates at the congress' opening, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao laid out a future development path for the country, highlighting some aspects deemed as Chinese characteristics.

No erroneous path

China will further push forward its political reforms while sticking to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Hu said while delivering the report on November 8.

He pointed out that the country rejects both the old and rigid closed-door policy and any attempts to abandon socialism and take an "erroneous path," stressing that China "will never copy a Western political system."

Hu also asked the Party to keep "every confidence in our path, in our theories and in our system."

The message clearly underlines the CPC's resolution to continue following the path of reform and opening-up while rejecting both conservative and liberal extremes in choosing the country's development model, experts say.

Intra-Party system

While vowing to make people's democracy more extensive, fuller in scope and sounder in practice, Hu called for intra-Party democracy, which he said is "the Party's life," as the way to boost people's democracy.

The general secretary said the proportion of delegates composed of workers and farmers should be increased, and urged the implementation of a new system that requires delegates to raise proposals following in-depth research.

So far, seven provincial-level Party congresses have implemented this system, which has been hailed as major progress in promoting intra-Party democracy.

Also, during the election of the members to the two major Party bodies, more than 9 percent of the nominees were eliminated, suggesting growing democracy as compared with previous congresses.

Ecological civilization

Hu emphasized the importance of ecological progress in his report to the congress and advocated the building of a "beautiful" China in the country's overall development plan.

During the amendment to the CPC Constitution that was approved Wednesday, the issue was elevated in importance to a "strategic position," putting it in a position as important as political, economic, social and cultural development.

"Promoting ecological progress is a long-term task of vital importance to the people's well-being and the Chinese nation's future," said a resolution approved by the congress.

At a time when the country is seeing rapid economic growth, laying emphasis on ecological development has become increasingly urgent, given that mass incidents induced by environment-related matters are on the rise.

Fairness and justice

Upholding social fairness and justice was also stressed at the congress, which Hu said is the intrinsic requirement of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Hu urged the establishment of a social security system that features fair rights, fair opportunities and fair rules, creating a fair environment to make sure that people have equal rights to participate and develop.

China is in a social transformation period, and it is crucial to stick to fairness and justice in all aspects, including fairness in employment, judicial practices, the distribution of education resources and the distribution of income, to achieve the goals of building a harmonious and moderately prosperous society.

Income growth

Hu set a new target for economic growth during the congress, saying that the country should double its 2010 GDP and per capita income by 2020 to make China's development "much more balanced, coordinated and sustainable."

This is the first time that per capita income has been included in the country's 2020 blueprint for a moderately prosperous society. In 2010, the GDP of China was 39,798.3 billion yuan ($6,387.6 billion).

Economists see the target as a manifestation of the Party's resolve to address public concerns and facilitate economic growth for the good of the people.

Anti-corruption

Fighting against corruption has long been a tough task the Party faces and a source of public concern. Hu pledged that combating corruption will be a clear-cut and long-term commitment for the Party.

"If we fail to handle this issue well, it could prove fatal to the Party, and even cause the collapse of the Party and the fall of the state," Hu warned.

Before the congress convened, the country handled several major corruption cases involving high-ranking officials, including former Chongqing Party chief Bo Xilai and former railway minister Liu Zhijun.

Considered as an effective way to curb corruption and an inevitable step in political reform, the disclosure of official's assets once again became a focus of the congress after several officials including Shanghai Party chief Yu Zhengsheng said they wouldn't mind making their assets public if the central government requires them to.

Xinhua contributed to this story

Related reports: Key points of Hu Jintao's report to CPC National Congress

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