A FAST-RISING star in the politburo has called for total commitment to Deng Xiaoping Thought and to ''the creation of new experience''.
In a speech in Beijing yesterday, Mr Wei Jianxing indicated that in tandem with economic reform, the authorities must give priority to ''party construction'', or boosting the strength and combat-readiness of Chinese Communist Party cells and other organisations.
However, in his first major speech after his elevation to the politburo, Mr Wei steered clear of such orthodox concerns and expressions as ''fighting bourgeois liberalisation'' or ''combatting peaceful evolution''.
In a bold departure from tradition, Mr Wei, who is also head of the Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, did not mention the Four Cardinal Principles of the socialist road and Marxism-Leninism and Maoism.
''We must insist on the guidance of the theories of Deng Xiaoping on building socialism with Chinese characteristics,'' the New China News Agency quoted Mr Wei as saying.
Party members should boost the ''core status'' of the party in all national endeavours.
Aside from fighting corruption and improving relations with the masses, Mr Wei said party construction should be based on ''integration with new situations, studying new problems and creating new experience''.