Live updates: Opening session of China's Communist Party congress
LATEST: A question-and-answer session with reporters was cancelled after delegates from Guangxi province discussed President Hu Jintao's report to the 18th national party congress. During the discussion, Guangxi party secretary Guo Shengkun praised the report and reiterated the importance of deepening the "scientific concept of development".
Updated at 7.35pm
A question-and-answer session with reporters was cancelled after delegates from Guangxi province discussed President Hu Jintao's report to the 18th national party congress.
"Guangxi must strive hard to fully utilise its advantage as a bridgehead on the frontline to connect China with Southeast Asian countries," Guo said.
Recent media reports tipped Guo as a likely candidate for the next minister for public security. However, Guo refused to comment and walked off when reporters asked whether he expects to be the next police chief.
Updated at 7.30pm
Updated at 4.15pm
Cai Rang, a congress delegate and party secretary at the state-owned China Iron and Steel Research Institute Group, agrees that government and party officials should publicise their personal assets, but doesn't think it's feasible in the short term.
"In the long term, this should be the way to go. But in the short term, we don't have enough psychological and technical preparation for it. The whole society, including the masses and the officials, is not ready yet. The publication should be from the top down."
Yu Jingzi, a delegate and hospital official from Shanghai, said: "Maybe publication of officials' personal assets alone can't solve the problem, because many corrupt officials have 'grey income’. We need to build a good system, focusing on regulation and enforcement."
Updated at 2.30pm
HK’s ties to colonial era should be respected, says Li Gang
Hong Kong people’s ties with the British colonial era should be respected, Li Gang, deputy director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong said on Thursday.
“Many Hong Kong citizens grew up during the British colonial era and received a western-style education, so their habits and ideologies should be respected,” said Li Gang.
China's GDP growth this year would likely remain above 7.5%, Yi Gang, a deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, told SCMP on the sidelines of the 18th Communist Party Congress. Yi also said that China's inflation levels for the year would likely be between 2 per cent and 3 per cent.
On the value of the Chinese currency, Yi said the yuan's current trading band was "appropriate".
Updated at 11.20am
On Beijing's relations with Hong Kong and Macau, Hu said that the central government will strictly adhere to the Basic Laws, support the Beijing-appointed chief executives, and focus on developing the economy in the two Special Administrative Regions.
"We firmly believe that our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau have the intelligence, ability and means to properly manage and build the Special Administrative Regions. They will definitely be able to play a positive role in national affairs. They will enjoy the dignity and honour of being Chinese along with the rest of the nation."
Hu says Hong Kong well governed
Updated at 10.45pm
On a series of deadly self-immolations by protesting Tibetans and Buddhist monks, the Communist Party's deputy chief in Tibet, Qiangba Puncog, told SCMP, "I can't say there are no self-immolations in Tibet; however, most Tibetan people and monks didn't burn themselves." Tibet will continue to grow its economy and maintain social stability, he said.
Our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau will definitely play a positive role in national affairs, and enjoy the dignity and honour of being Chinese along with the rest of the nation.
Updated at 10.15am
On economic reforms, Hu said, "[The Party will] deepen reforms of the economic system across the board, implement strategies to boost development through innovation, push forward the strategic readjustment of China's economic structure, unified development of urban and rural areas, as well as comprehensively elevate the openness of the Chinese economy."
Updated at 10am
Hu Jintao: "[The Party aims to] double GDP and per capita income by 2021, from 2010 levels..."
In an apparent reference to political reform, he said, "... we will take neither the old road of closed door and ossified politics, nor the wrong path of changing our banners."
Updated at 9.45am
President and Party Secretary General Hu Jintao, in his opening speech at the 18th Party Congress, said "no individual and group will be allowed to ride above the law, to replace the law with their might, suppress the law with their words, or to manipulate the law for their personal gains."
Updated at 9am
Another PLA delegate, Li Hong, said on the sidelines of the 18th Party Congress that he "completely supports" Hu Jintao to retain the chairmanship of the Central Military Commission, the supreme decision-making body for the Chinese armed forces.
Updated at 8.45am, Nov. 8
