Delegates to the plenum agreed that the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee had fully implemented the principals put forward by the first and second plenary sessions of the 17th CPC Central Committee, according to the communique.

It had held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, followed the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly applied the Scientific Outlook on Development, continued to emancipate the mind, persisted in reform and opening up, pursued development in a scientific way, promoted social harmony, and strove for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, it added.

The communique said that the Political Bureau also united the whole party and people of all ethnic groups to deal with the complicated and volatile international and domestic situations as well as big challenges of natural disasters.

It led the people to win the campaign against snow and rain disasters in south China in February and March, and relief work after the May 12 earthquake in southwest Sichuan Province, to successfully host the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, and to complete the manned space flight of Shenzhou-7.

The Political Bureau also did a good job in pushing forward the economic, political, cultural and social development and the party's self-building. It had made new progresses in all respects, consolidated and developed the social stability, the communique said.

Monday's People's Daily, the leading Party newspaper, will carry an editorial reviewing the achievement made at the plenum.

"The plenum was held at a critical moment when China's reform entered a key stage and changes of the international situation went deep," the article said.

Goal to double income of rural residents in 12 years

The income goal was part of the decision made at the close of the session, which focused on issues concerning rural reform and development.

The four-day meeting also decided to boost consumption of rural residents by a big margin and basically eliminate absolute poverty in rural areas by 2020.

The country's per capita income of rural residents was recorded at 4,140 yuan (about 591.4 U.S. dollars) in 2007. The rural population mired in absolute poverty was reduced to 15 million, down from 250 million in 1978.  Click here to read more

China's economic growth momentum remains unchanged

"The country's overall economic situation is good. The economy is growing quickly and the financial sector is operating steadily. The basic momentum of the country's economy remains unchanged," said a communique released at the close of the third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee.

The communique said all Party members should strengthen awareness of crises and face up to challenges as more uncertain and unstable factors emerged in the international economic climate amid deepening financial market turmoil and the slowdown of the world economy.

In the meantime, China's domestic economy featured some notable contradictions and problems, it said. "The most important thing is to do well in the country's own business.

"We should make flexible and careful macro-economic policies. We should step up efforts to boost domestic demand, particularly domestic consumption and keep the economy, the financial sector and the capital market stable.

"We should continue keeping social stability and pushing the country's economy towards sound and fast development," it said.  Click here to read more

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Sunday approved a decision on major issues concerning rural reform and development at the close of a four-day plenum.

(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2008)