PARTY BUILDING
The General Secretary outlined efforts to improve the Party, or "make Party building more scientific under the new historical conditions," in his speech.
"As a political party, it must have the abilities to fulfill its missions. The CPC has to improve itself to rule the country," said Prof. Ding Junping, an expert on Party building from Wuhan University.
The CPC must adapt Marxism both to China's conditions and to the current times, and make it known to the general public so as to raise the ideological and political awareness of the whole Party.
"We never take Marxism as an empty, rigid, and stereotyped dogma," Hu said.
"We must continue to free up our minds, seek truth from facts, advance with the times," he added.
Hu underscored the importance of talents for the Party, saying the CPC must recruit people on merit without regard to their origin and attract as many talents as possible.
Last year, 3.075 million people joined the CPC, boosting the number of Communist Party of China (CPC) members to 80 million.
The two leading groups of new members were college students and people at the frontline of production or work, such as industrial workers, farmers, herders, and migrant workers, both accounting for more than 40 percent of the total new Party members.
At the age of 59, Lu Daishu, a villager from Guizhou's Songyan Township, is the area's oldest person to apply for CPC membership. Lu converted his home into a service center for villagers back in 2008.
"Villagers come to me when they have disputes, or if they have any suggestions for village affairs. My sons often call me 'village judge' because I often help to resolve disputes here," Lu said.
Lu also had persuaded a tea producer and a fruit company to set up shop in his village to improve local employment situation.
Lu's leadership has won him praise from local farmers and recognition from the local Party committee. In October 2010, the local Party committee admitted Lu as a probationary member of the CPC.
On Friday's gathering, Hu Jintao also reiterated the principle of putting people first and governing for the people, and called on the Party to maintain close ties with the people.
The CPC is increasing its use of the Internet to keep close ties with the people. China now boasts the world's largest Internet population with 477 million users.
In Hu's speech, he said the CPC must intensify efforts to improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption so to maintain the advanced nature and integrity of the Party.
"If not effectively curbed, corruption will cost the Party the trust and support of the people," he said.
The CPC stepped up its efforts to crack down on corruption within the Party in 2010, by giving disciplinary punishments to 146,517 people and transferring 5,373 to judicial agencies for criminal proceedings.
The CPC must also place power, Party affairs, and Party members under institutional safeguards, Hu said, adding all the Party members are equal before the law.
"Hu has made it clear on what to do in different aspects to build a stronger Party. The key now lies in implementation," said Prof. Ding Junping. Enditem
(Huang Yan, Cai Min, Zhang Chunxiao and Mou Xu also contributed to the story.)
