China’s Leader Closes Door to Reform

[Spencer Collins]

China’s Leader Closes Door to Reform


By JOSEPH KAHN

BEIJING, Oct. 15 — President Hu Jintao promised to address social fissures, a degraded environment and rampant corruption during his second term as China’s top leader, but he all but ruled out more than cosmetic political reform in his opening address on Monday at the 17th National Congress of the governing Communist Party.

Mr. Hu spoke extensively about his “scientific view of development,” a set of lofty, vague principles supporting harmonious economic, social and political development.

The congress will enshrine the phrase “scientific view of development” into the party’s constitution alongside the political slogans of Mao, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, elevating Mr. Hu into the pantheon of leaders as he begins his second and final term as party general secretary, head of state and military chief.

This speech kicked off the weeklong event, which is held once every five years to extol past leaders and welcome a roster of younger officials newly elevated to leading roles. Party members have described the leadership contest, conducted in secret, as fractious. But the congress proceedings, which are ceremonial, present a facade of seamless unity and continuity.

In the main auditorium of the Great Hall of the People, under a giant hammer and sickle, Mr. Hu appeared on a rostrum with all the other members of the Politburo and the Central Committee, arranged in precise hierarchical order. They were joined by party elders, including Mr. Jiang, Mr. Hu’s direct predecessor, and at least two stalwarts of an earlier era, Wan Li and Song Ping, both more than 90 years old.

More?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/wo...01d&ei=5087%0A

"Do not wish for quick results, nor look for small advantages.
If you seek quick results, you will not reach the ultimate
goal. If you are led astray by small advantages, you will
never accomplish great things."..Confucius

[saltwn]

Just as I looked forward to the day (now past) the old Jew and the old Palestinian dropped from power, I have looked for a light to shine as the corpses of these ancient Chinese hypocrites were burned, buried or whatever.
But just as the old Jew and the old Palestinian managed to breath their ragged corruption into younger bodies, so goes it with China.