A total of 2,217 delegates have been elected to the upcoming 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including President Hu Jintao and other seven incumbent members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

More than 70 million CPC members nationwide elected the delegates, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee reported in Beijing on Thursday.

The Party's 17th National Congress will be held in the second half of 2007 in Beijing. From April to June local electoral units from across the country elected the delegates.

The number of delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress has increased by approximately 100 more than the previous 16th congress.

The delegates include not only Party leaders at various levels, but also grass-roots members from all walks of life, according to the department.

"Each delegate was selected through strict electoral procedures," said the department in a news release.

After the election these delegates still have to pass a qualification check to receive final approval to attend the congress.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2007)