Special Report: 17th CPC National Congress

The media center for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds the first press briefing in Beijing, China, Oct. 14, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Li Dongsheng (C), spokesman for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), speaks during the first press briefing held by the media center for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, China, Oct. 14, 2007.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Journalists who cover the coming 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will enjoy broader coverage scope and more considerate service during the five-yearly meeting, said congress spokesman Li Dongsheng Sunday afternoon.

Foreign journalists attend the first press briefing held by the media center for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, China, Oct. 14, 2007.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Discussions of 34 delegations on the political report to be delivered by Hu Jintao on behalf of the 16th CPC Central Committee on Monday will be open to more than 1,900 domestic and overseas journalists at designated period of time, Li said at a press conference.

    Li said journalists are welcomed to listen to the discussions, which used to be inaccessible to media, and will be fed with question and answer sessions, adding the move is part of the country's efforts to offer overseas media broader information access during the Olympics.

    There are 38 delegations, grouping 2,213 delegates from nationwide, to the congress, which is to charter the roadmap for China's development and decide the ruling party's leadership lineup for the following years.

    Regarded as the most important political event in China this year, the congress, which opens on Monday and will last till next Sunday, has attracted the largest press contingents from around the world.

    A total of 807 domestic journalists and 1,135 journalists from 55 other countries and regions are reporting the congress, Li said. In contrast, about 850 overseas journalists and 570 domestic ones covered the 16th CPC National Congress five years ago.

    "Only if delegates themselves agree to be interviewed, the media center will try all out to arrange such interviews for news organizations that submit applications," Li told reporters.

    Delegates will hear and examine the political report, examine the report on the work of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, deliberate and adopt the amendment to the Party Constitution, and elect the Party's 17th Central Committee and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

    Li said upon the conclusion of the congress, the Party's 17th Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will hold their first plenary sessions respectively to elect their new leading bodies. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the new Central Committee of the CPC will meet Chinese and foreign reporters after the plenary session of the Central Committee, he said.

    On the live televised press briefing, journalists threw a few sensitive questions to Li, who was formerly a senior political correspondent with China Central Television and is now vice chief of the CPC Central Committee Publicity Department.

    The questions ranged from election of the CPC Central Committee, the Party's political restructuring to current social disputes.

    Long veiled as clandestine meetings, the CPC national congresses were traditionally unavailable to overseas press. Till the late 1970s, when the country started the reform and opening-up drive, only a few key state media outlets were mandated to help release news on Party congresses.

    Meng Fanhua, media coordinator of the Liaoning delegation and vice chief of the Publicity Department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, said the Liaoning delegation will leave around 30 minutes in their group discussion to answer reporters' questions.

    Ten years ago, the Party for the first time opened its usually closed-door delegation discussions to overseas media during the 15th CPC National Congress, which was commented by public opinion as "unprecedented openness" of the party congress.

    Days ago, a Macao Daily report said Party delegates have changed their brand restrained style of "silence is gold" and would now eloquently express their views on any topics they are asked.

    Geng Huifang, a Beijing delegate, viewed this change as a natural process of political and social development in a society towards prosperity and modernity.

    "We should have wider perspectives and progressive attitude," Geng said.

    An increasing number of Party delegates now dislike talking cliche and they are intent on speaking their true minds in public remarks.

    Wang Bo, a businesswoman-like delegate from central Hubei Province, opened her blog, writing bloglines on her work in leading a community and answering questions from people in her community.

    The opening ceremony of the 17th CPC National Congress will be live televised Monday morning, which is a continuation of the same practice since the 15th CPC National Congress in 1997.

    David Wivell, senior producer of the Associated Press Television News, said he was quite impressive with the progress of Chinese domestic media coverage on the Party congress. "They began to touch negative things," Wivell said.

    Yosuke Watanabe, Beijing bureau chief of Japan's Kyodo News Agency, said Kyodo has dispatched 15 correspondents to cover the Party congress, some of whom are applying for interviews with Party delegates they are interested in.

    Wu Zhongmin, a sociologist at the CPC Central Party School, said it unavoidable for any modern political party to improve transparency. "Openness and transparency are premise for supervision and power check," Wu said.