China will spend the next five years nurturing a highly skilled, innovative workforce in order to become a first-league R&D player, top education and science officials said.

Raising the quality of higher education is critical to the country's push to become an innovation-oriented economy, said the education minister and the vice-minister of science and technology.

The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/

In his address, Hu Jintao said China was at "a crucial stage" of reform and development, and that governing institutions needed to be more responsive to the country's changing needs.

The speech also made liberal reference to "scientific development" - a trademark of Hu's presidency, calling for a more equal distribution of growth and more efficient use of China's increasingly stretched resources.

Al Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net

President Hu Jintao and the other members of the Communist Party's ruling inner core, the Politburo, will be accountable to a wider party membership under potentially far-reaching reforms pledged by Hu himself on Monday.

"We will establish a healthy system under which the Politburo regularly reports its work to plenary sessions of the Central Committee and accepts (Central Committee) oversight," Hu told more than 2,200 delegates at the opening of the Party's 17th Congress.

Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK37234320071015

In a speech that will set China's direction for the next five years, Hu spoke of the need to address the problems of environmental degradation, political corruption and income inequality between the rich cities on the eastern seaboard and villages in the poor western interior.

Hu used the 135-minute speech to amplify his theory of a "Scientific Outlook on Development", which will be written into the Party charter. It represents a change of focus from quantity to quality in national governance.

Instead of merely aiming for high growth, it emphasizes sustainability and social harmony. "Our economic growth is realized at an excessively high cost of resources and the environment," Hu noted.

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk

An important component of building a harmonious society is developing democratic politics and the rule of law.

It is also necessary to crack down on corruption and ensure social justice so that long-term stability can be guaranteed.

Right now, the nation is greatly expanding its democracy and the rule of law, and anti-corruption work is also in a high gear. This is something any Hong Kongers who visit the mainland can feel.

Wenweipo

http://www.wenweipo.com/

(China Daily 10/18/2007 page6)