Zeng Qinghong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and executive chairman of the Presidium of the First Session of the 10th NPC, made the remarks while explaining the draft list of candidates recommended by the CPC Central Committee at the third presidium meeting.

There will be one candidate for the chairmanship of the NPC Standing Committee, 15 candidates for vice chairmanship. The number of vice chairmen is down by four as compared to the 9th NPC Standing Committee.

The new NPC Standing Committee will consist of 159 members. But with 167 nominees, eight candidates stand to fail the election.

There will be one candidate for the presidency of the People's Republic of China and one candidate for the vice presidency.

There will be one candidate for the premier of the State Council, four candidates for vice premiers, and five candidates for state councilors.

There will be one candidate for the chairman of the CMC, three candidates for CMC vice chairmen, and four candidates for CMC members.

In addition, there will be 29 candidates for the ministers and secretary-general of the State Council.

The posts will be elected or approved from an equal number of candidates, according to rules of election decided at the current NPC session which started on March 5.

Zeng told the presidium that because of age, some "elderly comrades from both the CPC and the non-Communist Party" were not nominated. He lauded them for their new contributions to the generational change in the leadership of the State organs.

The draft list of candidates recommended by the CPC Central Committee was decided after consulting with and listening to opinions from different sides, including the non-Communist parties. The name list was passed by the Second Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee in February, said Zeng.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2003)