President Jiang Zemin has indicated it is no bad thing that top-level personnel changes will not be finalised until the eve of the 15th Party Congress.
Beijing sources said yesterday that the composition of key bodies such as the Politburo and the Politburo Standing Committee was still undecided even though the congress opens on September 12.
In the past, high-level personnel arrangements were determined at least two months before the five-yearly conclaves started.
Political sources said Mr Jiang was giving 'an upbeat spin' to the fact that horse-trading among the party's different factions had been inconclusive.
They said to resolve the impasse, senior cadres had temporarily revived old plans, including boosting the membership of the Politburo and its Standing Committee to accommodate more candidates recommended by heavyweight politicians.
'It may not be a bad thing that discussions over personnel issues go on until just before the congress opens,' Mr Jiang reportedly said.
