The giant streamer in the Great Hall of the People, the venue for China's most important political events, echoes Hu Jintao's keynote speech to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which started on Monday morning.

The streamer reads: "To hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, and strive for new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects."

Delegates who attended the previous Party congress five years ago might remember the streamer at that time: "To hold high the great banner of the Deng Xiaoping Theory, fully act on the important thought of the Three Represents, carry forward our cause into the future, keep pace with the times, build a well-off society in an all-round way, and work hard to create a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics."

"The streamers always carry the themes of Party congresses which are the most important message the CPC wants to transfer to the whole Party and the public," said Song Fufan, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

The 16th CPC National Congress set the target of building a moderately prosperous society in the following two decades, Song said. Analyzing new problems and the situation in the past five years, he added, the Party has made some changes to the country's present direction, which is embodied in the words on the latest streamer.

More than 2,200 delegates, representing over 70 million CPC members nationwide, are reviewing Hu's report on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee, which did not dodge outstanding problems challenging CPC governance, such as the widening wealth gap, the soaring environmental and ecological cost of rapid growth, regional imbalances and lack of sustained rural development.

Hu said new requirements for attaining the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects would include balanced and sound economic development, the expansion of socialist democracy, cultural enhancement, the development of social programs and an environment-friendly and resource-efficient culture.

Zhao Zhongshe, a delegate from the southernmost Hainan Province, said the streamer shows that the Party has enriched the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The streamers of past Party congresses have chronicled the deepening reforms of the CPC. The one for the 12th National Congress said: "To strive for creating a new situation in building socialism in all respects." Deng Xiaoping, who masterminded the reform and opening-up policy, encouraged the whole Party to "blaze its own trail and build socialism with Chinese characteristics". Since then, the words of "building socialism with Chinese characteristics" have appeared every time from the 13th to 17th Party congresses.

Analysts say the streamers have shown the CPC's gradually deepening understanding of the nature of socialism.

The unchanged core theme and the changed focuses at different times reflect the CPC's different tactics on how to push forward the cause of socialism.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily 10/17/2007 page7)