Elders consulted on new line-ups

PATRIARCH Mr Deng Xiaoping and other party elders have been consulted over the new structure of the executive State Council, the military, the national legislature and the united front body, a senior official said.

Sources said Politburo Standing Committee member, Mr Hu Jintao, made the remarks when giving an account of the new line-up to the presidium of the ongoing National People's Congress (NPC).

Mr Hu, who is in charge of organisation matters, said that the party had attached great importance to the formation of the next government at the current NPC and Chinese People's Political Consultative Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The choice of the new leadership was a result of detailed examination based on a broad design plus consultation with Mr Deng Xiaoping and other old comrades, he said.

A list of government leaders was later formulated by the Communist Party politburo.

The views of democratic parties and major public bodies as well as non-afiliated party leaders had been gauged, Mr Hu said.

''We can say that the list is a product of democratic consultation and collective wisdom,'' he maintained.

In his account, Mr Hu said the Premier, Mr Li Peng, was nominated again for another term because of the ''requirements of the job''. Mr Hu did not elaborate.

It is understood that the ruling party wants to install a ''cross-leadership'' system under which top party leaders are to head the government, legislature and CPPCC organs.

Mr Hu pointed out that President Mr Yang Shangkun had not been nominated again because of his age and ''in accordance with his own wish''.

He said that party chief Mr Jiang Zemin had been nominated to succeed Mr Yang.

Mr Hu confirmed that the naming of Mr Rong Yiren, China's ''red capitalist'', as vice-state president was aimed at further promoting the ''multi-party co-operation'' system under the communist leadership.

Mr Wan Li, had not wanted to be renominated.

Politburo Standing Committee member, Mr Qiao Shi, has been named to replace Mr Wan as NPC chairman.

''To facilitate their work,'' the top leaders of the party's Central Military Commission, headed by Mr Jiang, had been nominated to constitute the government's Central Military Commission, Mr Hu said.

Mr Hu said that Mr Yang, Mr Wan, Mr Yao Yilin, Mr Xi Zhongxun, Mr Peng Zhong, Mr Ye Fei, Mr Liao Hansheng, Mr Wang Fang and Mr Liu Fuzhi would relinquish all official posts during the current NPC and CPPCC sessions.

THE NEW LINE-UP THE full line-up of the new leadership of the Eighth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference: Chairman: Li Ruihuan. Re-elected vice-chairmen (15): Ye Xuanping, Hong Xuezhi, Yang Jingren, Zhou Peiyuan, Deng Zhaoxiang, Zhao Puchu, Ba Jin, Liu Jingji, Qian Xuesen, Qian Weichang, Hu Sheng, Qian Zhengying, Su Buqing, Hou Jingru and Ding Guangxun. Newly-elected vice-chairmen (10): Wu Xueqian, Yang Rudai, Wang Zhaoguo, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Seypidin Azizi, Dong Yinchu, Sun Fuling, Ann Tse-kai, Henry FokYing-tung and Ma Man-kei.