China's Future is Based on the Vision of Capitalism - 2002-11-08

Yang Zemin, the President of China, opened the most important political meeting of his country in the current decade and addressed a vision for the future based on capitalism for a country still firmly under communist rule. Mr. Jiang, who is expected to retire next year, told representatives at the 16th Party Congress that China's rulers must abandon 'outdated' methods and systems. He considered reforms and modernization as the only worthy path for a powerful China. The seventy-six-year-old president told the audience that the Party should strive to embrace capitalism more for progress. However, he emphasized that communism must remain strong in China. Hu Jintao, who is expected to be elected as China's leader, stated that his country will not deviate from socialism while striving to enrich its citizens economically. The official Xinhua news agency quoted Hu Jintao as saying that China will continue to apply Marxism-Leninism to advance socialism with Chinese characteristics. Hu Jintao expressed this view on Friday following the opening of the 16th Congress of the Communist Party in Beijing. He is expected to be elected as China's leader early next year, succeeding Jiang Zemin. In his speech at the opening of the Congress, Jiang stated that China must attract more investments for progress, even while remaining communist.