The congress, the first of its kind convened by the Party in the new century, is of great importance at a time when China enters the third phase of its modernization program.

The congress, which opened on November 8, called on all Party members and people of all ethnic groups of the country to rally closely around the Party Central Committee and work with one heart and one mind in a joint and unyielding effort to advance the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and create a happier life and a better future.

The closing session was presided over by Jiang Zemin.

Among those seated in the front row on the rostrum were members of the Standing Committee of the presidium of the congress, including Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing, Li Lanqing, Ding Guangen, Tian Jiyun, Li Changchun, Li Tieying, Wu Bangguo, Wu Guanzheng, Chi Haotian, Zhang Wannian, Luo Gan, Jiang Chunyun, Jia Qinglin, Qian Qichen, Huang Ju, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Yi, Wan Li, Qiao Shi, Song Ping, Liu Huaqing, Bo Yibo, Ye Xuanping, Song Jian and Cao Qingze.

At 9:00 a.m., Jiang Zemin declared the start of the closing session.

The congress first approved a list of two general scrutineers and 36 scrutineers.

Under the supervision of the general scrutineers and scrutineers, the 2,132 delegates and specially-invited delegates who were present at the session cast their secret ballots and elected the 16th CPC Central Committee composed of 198 members and 158 alternate members. The delegates also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection comprising 121 members.

The Great Hall of the People burst into applause when the results of the elections were announced.

The congress endorsed a resolution on the report of the 15th CPC Central Committee, approving the report which was delivered by Jiang Zemin on behalf of the 15th Central Committee.

The congress held that the report has expounded in a profound manner such major questions as what banner to hold, what road to take and what objectives to attain by the Party in the new century. The report has made overall arrangements for reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive. It is a political declaration and a program of action for the Party to unite with and lead the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country in forging ahead at the new stage in the new century.

The congress held that the theme of the report accords with the tide of the times and the sentiments of all Party members and the people. The congress stressed that the Party must stand firm in the forefront of the times and unite with and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in accomplishing the three major historical tasks of propelling the modernization drive, achieving national reunification and safeguarding world peace and promote common development, and in bringing about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on its road to socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The congress highly valued the work of the 15th Central Committee. The congress approved the summary made by the 15th CPC Central Committee of the great practice over the past 13 years since the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th CPC Central Committee and unanimously agreed on the basic experience the Party must follow as it leads the people in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The congress agreed to establish the important thought of Three Representatives as a guiding ideology of the Party together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory.

The congress pointed out that for the country, the first two decades of the 21st century are a period of important strategic opportunities, which must be seized tightly and which offers bright prospects. The congress agreed with the objectives of building a well-off society in an all-round way put forward in the report and held that the objectives are of great significance for rallying the forces of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups and speeding up the socialist modernization drive.

The congress agreed on the arrangements for China's economic, political and cultural development and reform made in the report. The congress approved the arrangements for building national defense and the army made in the report. The congress stressed the need to adhere to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal on developing cross-Straits relations and advancing the process of peaceful national reunification at the present stage in order to achieve the complete reunification of the motherland ultimately.

The congress agreed with the report on its analysis of the international situation and all the principles it puts forth for the external work.

The congress stressed that no efforts should be spared to strengthen and improve the Party's leadership and fully advance the great new undertaking of Party building in building a well-off society in an all-round way and speeding up the socialist modernization drive. It is essential to take a clear-cut stand and never waver in carrying on the fight against corruption in depth.

The closing session of the congress passed a resolution on the amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, which took effect immediately.

The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the Communist Party of China is the vanguard both of the Chinese working class and of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation as well as the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and that it represents the development trend of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people. The realization of communism is the highest ideal and ultimate goal of the Party.

The congress agreed to make it clear in the Constitution that the Communist Party of China takes Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Representatives as its guide to action and that the important thought of Three Representatives is a guiding ideology that the Party must uphold for a long time to come.

The congress agreed that to incorporate into the Constitution the idea of building a well-off society in an all-round way, which is an objective set by the current congress, is of great significance to the work of the Party. It can help mobilize the whole Party to seize tightly the first two decades of the 21st century, which are a period of important strategic opportunities, focus on reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive and work to bring about an all-round development of the socialist market economy, socialist democracy and advanced socialist culture.

The congress maintained that the following are significant achievements the Party has scored in its practice of building socialism with Chinese characteristics: to uphold and improve the basic economic system with public ownership playing a dominant role and diverse forms of ownership developing side by side; keep and improve the system of income distribution under which distribution according to work is dominant and a variety of modes of distribution coexist; uphold and improve the socialist market economy; implement the strategy of rejuvenation of the nation through science and education and that of sustainable development; promote a coordinated development of the socialist material, political and spiritual civilizations; rule the country according to law and build a socialist country under the rule of law; and combine the rule of law with rule of virtue. To include all this in the Constitution can help all Party comrades to implement the Party's line, principles and policies more consciously and more firmly, and better lead the people in creating a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The congress held that it is conducive to reinforcing the Party's class foundation and expanding its mass base, and thus enhancing the Party's rallying power and influence in society at large to make it clear in the Constitution that any Chinese worker, farmer, member of the armed forces, intellectual or any advanced element of other social strata who has reached the age of eighteen and who accepts the Party's program and Constitution and is willing to join and work actively in one of the Party organizations, carry out the Party's decisions and pay membership dues regularly may apply for membership in the CPC.

The congress believed that it is very important for an all-round advancement of the great new undertaking of Party building to set clearer requirements in the Constitution in respect of Party building and the Party leadership, the duties to be fulfilled by Party members, the basic rules of procedure and decision-making mechanism within Party committees, the building of primary Party organizations, the essential qualifications of Party leading cadres at all levels, the main tasks of Party discipline inspection organs, and the status and tasks of leading Party members' groups in light of the new situation and new tasks of the Party and on the basis of new experience in Party building in recent years.

The congress also passed a resolution on the work report of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, fully approved the work of the commission.

After the congress completed all its agenda, Jiang Zemin delivered a speech, noting that the congress is successful and inspiring and is of great historic significance in the development process of the Party and state.

The report of the 15th CPC Central Committee is a political declaration and a program of action for the Party in the new century, he said.

The amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China establishes the important thought of Three Representatives as a guiding ideology of the Party together with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory. This reflects new requirements for Party-building in the new situation, Jiang said.

The congress elected a new CPC Central Committee, achieving a smooth succession of the Party's central leadership. The congress also elected a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The election is of great historic significance and will inspire the whole Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to keep pace with the times and push forward the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Jiang Zemin said.

During the congress period, many foreign political parties and organizations, and various non-Communist parties and personages in China sent congratulations to the congress. The presidium of the congress felt heartfelt gratitude for their congratulations, Jiang said.

After the election, a number of non-Communist guests were invited as observers to attend the closing session of the congress. They included incumbent and former vice chairpersons of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), former state vice president, leading members of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and the central committees of non-Communist parties, and figures without party affiliation.

Also present at the closing session of the congress were leading officials from relevant departments of the Party.

The closing session ended to the tune of "Internationale."

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2002)