Balance is now a central concern in the Communist Party of China's (CPC) new governance philosophy.

The single-minded pursuit of growth and efficiency is out. The new idea is to balance such needs with fairness, ecological wellbeing, as well as people's feelings.

The Scientific Outlook on Development itself is about balance and harmony. So is the composition of the new leadership core of the CPC.

The nine-man lineup includes four news faces, the youngest being 52 years old, ushering in considerable freshness into the Party's top leading panel.

With all the five leading members of the Political Bureau serving a new term, continuity in major national strategies is predictable. The new members, on the other hand, will prove a precious supplement to the rich experiences of the incumbent five.

Age-wise, the current layout of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau is ideal insurance that the CPC's main policy initiatives will not be discontinued or twisted because of generation change.

Of the four new members, two are from the provinces, the other two from the CPC's national offices in Beijing. This may be coincidental. But the pattern also mirrors a balance - balance between central and local influences at the core of the Party's national authorities. An organic combination of perspectives from Beijing and the provinces has turned out to be crucial for the success of national policies. The younger blood from outside Beijing will help making policies applicable to local realities.

CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao reiterated the promises he made on behalf of the Party at its just-concluded 17th National Congress after presenting the new Political Bureau leadership. At the heart of all the pledges is dedication to all-round, coordinated, and sustainable development oriented at public welfare. The fulfillment of which calls for sophisticated balancing all the time.

For the high hopes the nation pins on them, the new leaders of the Party should work hard so as to not let the people down.

(China Daily October 23, 2007)