Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders yesterday urged the nation's youth to play a bigger role in the country's development and reform drive.

They made the remarks at yesterday's opening session of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) in Beijing.

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening session of the congress, along with fellow Party and State leaders Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin and Zeng Qinghong.

Wu Guanzheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening session on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

The theme of the five-day CYLC congress is to hold high the banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully implement the "Three Represents" thought and the guidelines of the 16th CPC National Congress, and unite and lead China's youth in building a relatively well-off society.

A total of 1,488 delegates from around the country, representing 69.86 million CYLC members, are attending the congress.

Zhou Qiang, first secretary of the Secretariat of the CYLC Central Committee, made a work report to the congress on behalf of the 14th CYLC Central Committee.

Founded in 1922, the CYLC, with a current membership of 69.86 million, is the world's largest youth organization. It holds a national congress every five years, with the 15th congress closing on Saturday.

(China Daily July 23, 2003)