BEIJING -- Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and Zhu Rongji are going to attend the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as specially invited delegates, congress spokesman Li Dongsheng said Sunday.

Li told reporters at a press briefing that a total of 57 specially invited delegates will attend the congress, enjoying the same rights with 2,213 delegates.

Jiang, Li and Zhu, all members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the 15th CPC Central Committee, did not enter the 16th CPC Central Committee in 2002 and retired afterwards.

Jiang, 81, was general secretary of the 15th CPC Central Committee, state president and chairman of the Central Military Commission. Li, 79, was former chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Zhu, 79, was former premier.