On Monday, the Communist Party of China (CPC) published a list of newly elected delegates to attend its upcoming National Congress, which convenes once every five years.

After a subsequent qualification check, those 2,270 representatives are expected to deliberate and decide vital issues on the party and the country on behalf of some 82 million party members and the entire Chinese population.

The selection and election process served as a vivid application of the CPC's principle of democratic centralism and demonstrated its vigorous vitality.

A POLITICAL TASK OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

Last October, the 17th Central Committee of the CPC decided at its sixth plenary session that the Party's 18th National Congress would be held in Beijing in the second half of 2012.

It was widely believed that the 18th National Congress, held at a critical period of the country's reform and development, would have profound influence on the party's role in leading the country, by having a clear understanding of the situation, and reaching a consensus.

Thus, the selection and election of delegates served as groundwork for a successful session.

The CPC Central Committee attached great importance to the process, with general secretary Hu Jintao giving instructions on several occasions.

Actually, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its Standing Committee had discussed the selection last August and clarified the guidelines and policies to be used.

Measures also taken by central authorities to enhance democracy, and the transparency and supervision of the process, while optimizing the structures of the politically reliable delegates, included drawing experiences from the previous selection and election five years ago and making institutional innovations.

Before the selection, the CPC Central Committee decided that a total of 2,270 delegates should be elected by 40 electoral units across the country.

A standard for candidates was also highlighted, clarifying that they should be elite party members with a firm political stand, virtue, fine working style, excellent achievements and comparatively strong capability in fulfilling the duties of a party delegate.

The CPC Central Committee also decided that the number of candidates should be at least 15 percent more than that of the delegates, while the ratio of delegates from the grass-roots level, especially workers, should be increased.

To carry out the plan, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee offered dedicated training for the election work, distributed flow charts of the selection and supervision procedures.