The 15th Party Congress, held in 1997, also lasted one week but the duration of this year's event had not been announced until yesterday, though its starting date was made public two months ago.

At the press conference on the eve of the five-yearly congress, spokesman Ji Bingxuan said the congress is "extremely important" and is being held at a time when the country is entering a new stage of development in building an all-round "well-off society."

The congress will map out a strategic plan for China's reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive in the 21st century, said Ji, also deputy director of the Party Central Committee's publicity department.

The spokesman said that since the 15th Party Congress, the Party has stepped up its efforts to fight corruption and striven to promote clean and honest administration. Only a few Party leaders have been tainted by corruption, and the Party will continue to curb and prevent corruption, and eliminate the root causes of graft, he added.

Ji told the press conference that China will reform its political system further on the basis of its own national conditions and by no means will it copy Western political models.

China has drawn up, revised or abolished legislation on the media and publications sector to comply with commitments it made when joining the World Trade Organization, he said.

Ji added that the admission of private entrepreneurs will not change the Party's nature.

"The admission of outstanding people from new social strata will not change the nature or the purpose of the Party at all," said Ji.

Workers, farmers, intellectuals, members of the armed forces and officials at all levels remain the backbone of the Party, Ji said in response to a Hong Kong reporter's question.

Outstanding people in other strata are admitted to the Party if they pass checks on their background and qualifications, acknowledge the Party's program and constitution and are willing to strive for the Party's cause. Recruiting them will increase the influence and cohesion of the Party throughout society, the spokesman said.

It is not clear how many people from the private sector have been admitted as Party members since the 15th Party Congress, which said: "The non-public sector, including individual and private businesses, is an important component of the socialist market economy."

But experts said they believe that a few private entrepreneurs are among the 2,114 delegates attending the 16th congress.

(China Daily November 8, 2002)