Hailed as one with "great historic significance" by Jiang Zemin, the week-long congress elected a new CPC Central Committee of 198 members and 158 alternate members and a 121-member Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and adopted three key resolutions.

The election for the new CPC leadership was conducted by casting secret ballots by 2,132 delegates present at the closing session. The delegates burst into thunderous applause when the election result was announced, giving their ringing endorsement to the generational change of leadership.

Jiang Zemin and five of his colleagues in the Party's top decision-making body are not on the new Central Committee of the CPC elected yesterday.

"With the election of a new central committee at the congress, the Party's central collective leadership has realized a smooth transition from the old to the new," Jiang said at the closing ceremony of the congress at the Great Hall of the People.

The congress approved the report made by Jiang on behalf of the 15th CPC Central Committee last Friday, and spoke highly of the work of the 15th CPC Central Committee.

Jiang's report hailed

In a resolution endorsed by the congress, the delegates held the report "is a political declaration and a programme of action for the Party" in the new century. "The report expounded in a profound manner such major questions as what banner to hold, what road to take and what objectives to attain by our Party in the new century," it said.

The congress stressed that the Party must stand firm in the forefront of the times and unite and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to accomplish three major historic tasks in bringing about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on its road to socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The three tasks are to propel the modernization drive, to achieve national reunification, and to safeguard world peace and promote common development.

The resolution says the congress agrees with the objectives of building a well-off society in an all-round way put forward in the report.

The Party must spare no efforts to strengthen and improve its leadership and never waver in carrying on the fight against corruption, the resolution says.

The congress unanimously agreed to establish the important thought of "Three Represents," together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, as the guiding ideology of the Party. It amended the Party Constitution in another resolution.

The third resolution adopted at yesterday's meeting said the congress examined and approved the Work Report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and fully affirmed the commission's work.

Discipline inspection

The congress urged the central and local commissions for discipline inspection at all levels to hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully act on the important thought of "Three Represents," and conscientiously study and implement the spirit of the 16th CPC National Congress.

In its resolution, the congress urges the commissions at various levels to intensify their efforts in improving the Party's work style, building a clean and honest government and combating corruption, and work for the overall interest of reform, development and stability.

After the congress completed its agenda, Jiang delivered a speech to warm applause.

The congress, with its resolutions and election, is of great historic significance for the development of the Party and the country, he said at the meeting.

They will immensely encourage the whole Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to keep pace with the times, blaze new trails in a pioneering spirit and confidently propel the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he told the congress before it closed to the strains of the "Internationale."

(China Daily)

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