Photo taken on Oct. 15, 2007 shows the opening ceremony of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. The congress will last for seven days till October 21. (Xinhua/Li Tao)



BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened here at 9 a.m. on Monday to map out China's all-round development for the coming five years.

Hu Jintao delivered a report on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee, which will be examined at the five-yearly gathering.

He called on all members of the CPC and the Chinese people on Monday to hold high the "great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics" in their strive for building "a moderately prosperous society in all aspects."

Banners hanging in the grand conference hall of the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing bear catchphrases of CPC's recent theoretical developments, ranging from "socialism with Chinese characteristics", "Deng Xiaoping theory", "Three Represents" to "scientific outlook on development" and "moderately prosperous society".

Altogether 2,237 delegates from across the country attended the opening, which is being covered live by China's televisions, radios and websites.

"Nowadays the delegates are more keen on issues concerning the ordinary people's lives such as employment rate and medical care," said CPC delegate Xie Shijie, 73, who was also delegate to the previous three Party Congresses. "In the past we always talked about GDP and investment."

According to Hu's report, China will continue to power the engine of economic growth by quadrupling the per capita value of gross domestic production (GDP) of the year 2000 by 2020.

But the rapid growth will be under the condition of reduced consumption of resources and greater efforts in environment protection, according to the report released to the press earlier on Monday.

High on the agenda of the 17th National Congress are a draft amendment to the Party Constitution to reflect the scientific outlook on development and new achievements in the Party's theoretical innovation and progress in practice, and election of the Party's 17th Central Committee that will decide CPC's new leadership lineup for the coming few years, spokesman for the congress Li Dongsheng said at a press briefing on Sunday.

A new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will also be elected, Li said.

A preparatory meeting on Sunday appointed Zeng Qinghong, 68, as secretary-general of the congress.

Four senior Party leaders were selected by the 237-member Presidium as deputy secretaries-general, namely Liu Yunshan, Zhou Yongkang, He Guoqiang and Wang Gang.

The congress will last for seven days till Sunday.