Hu Jintao, newly-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The Political Bureau stressed that to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 16th congress, achieve consensus of opinion among the Party and people of all ethnic groups in the spirit of the congress and meet the goals set by the congress are the most important political tasks of the Party and will remain so.

The Political Bureau pointed out the priority should be the study of Jiang Zemin's report to the congress, as it contains an overall plan for China's reform and opening up and its socialist modernization and serves as the political declaration and guideline for the Party to lead the nation in the new century.

The Political Bureau hailed the important thought of "Three Representatives" as the soul and historic contribution of the congress. "In studying and implementing the spirit of the 16th congress, the first and foremost thing is to study and implement the important thought of the 'Three Representatives' as it is the core of the congress."

The Political Bureau called on the study to focus on the theme of the congress, which was to hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully act on the important thought of "Three Representatives", carry the Party's cause into the future, keep pace with the times, build a well-off society in an all-round way, speed up socialist modernization and work hard to create a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Political Bureau urged Party members to stick to the principles of emancipating their minds, seeking truth from the facts and keeping pace with the times, calling them the kernel of the 16th congress and the decisive factors in the Party's leading status and creativity.

The Political Bureau called on senior and middle-level officials to lead the study and implementation of the spirit of the 16th congress so as to improve their capacities for building a market economy and fulfilling their historic mission of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

All the members of the Political bureau unanimously agreed that they would firmly remember Jiang Zemin's entrustment and faithfully implement the historic mission given to them by the Party and the people.

They pledged to hold high the Party's banner and keep pace with the times; practice democracy and be united and solidary; work hard and be realistic and pragmatic; be upright and clean, and serve the people wholeheartedly.

The Political Bureau members vowed to consciously accept the supervision of the Party and the people, and to devote their lives to the service of the nation in a bid to build the new Political Bureau into a strong leadership that would lead the Party and the people to embrace a greater future.

The Political Bureau approved the Central Committee's decision on the study and implementation of the spirit of the 16th congress and decided that it would be issued to the whole Party.

The Political Bureau also studied the division of work among its members and issues relating to its own development.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2002)