The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) announced here Sunday it has worked out an overall plan guiding the election of delegates attending the Party's 17th National Congress.

A total of 2,220 delegates will be elected by 38 electoral units across the country. The election will be completed by June next year, according to the CPC Central Committee.

The number of delegates to the 17th CPC National Congress is nearly 100 more than the figure of the 16th congress, considering the increase of CPC members since 2002 and the need to improve the representation of delegates at the grass-roots level, an official with the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee told Xinhua.

The CPC has more than 70 million party members at present, adding six million new members since its 16th National Congress in November 2002.

The official said the CPC Central Committee has issued a circular on the election of delegates, which defines clearly the division of electoral units, the makeup and qualification of candidates and the procedures of election.

"Leaders and cadres generally should not constitute over 70 percent of the total number of delegates, while those from the grass-roots level should not be less than 30 percent," the official said, adding that the percentage of workers, farmers and professionals should be improved among the delegates.

The official also noted that the proportion of female delegates and those from ethnic groups should be higher than their respective percentages out of the total number of Party members in the electoral units they belong to.

"The delegates should also include a certain number of Party members who come from new economic and social organizations," the official said.

The 16th Central Committee of the CPC decided at its sixth plenary session in October that the party's 17th National Congress will be held in the second half of 2007 in Beijing.

"The delegates to the 17th National Congress of the CPC shoulder the great trust of more than 70 million Party members. They should represent the opinions and needs of the Party members in various sectors and fields," the officials aid.

The official quoted the circular as saying that the delegates should be qualified in four aspects, including closely abiding by and implementing the Party constitution, firmly carrying out the Party's guidelines and policies, being honest and upright and remaining closely in touch with the public, and honestly reflecting their opinions and demands.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2006)