Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the political bureau meeting.

The participants discussed a document on deepening the reform of the administrative management system and on government organization.

The participants agreed that the two issues are key to China's political reform and essential to the functioning of the socialist market economy consistent in light of China's commitments to the World Trade Organization.

The participants also discussed the list of candidates for the country's next administration, which will be recommended to the upcoming meeting of the 10th National People's Congress as well as the candidate list for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) leaders which will also be recommended to the first meeting of the 10th CPPCC.

The issues of political reform and the candidate lists for new leaders were adopted as agenda items for the upcoming secondary plenum of the CPC Central Commission.

In addition, the meeting discussed the State Council's work report and approved the draft to be presented at the 10th National People's Congress.

The meeting concluded that, in the five years that have passed since the first meeting of the 9th National People's Congress, the Chinese people, under the Party's leadership, have made impressive achievements in the advancement of reforms, opening up and socialist modernization.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2003)