Chinese Communist Party begins congress

BEIJING -- Outlining his vision for a richer, stronger, less corrupt China, President Jiang Zemin moved Friday to confirm his place in history at a historic Communist Party congress that will usher in a new generation of leaders.

Jiang, nearing the end of 13 years as party general secretary, said China aims to quadruple the size of its economy by 2020 and compete harder in international markets.

"People will have more family property and lead a more prosperous life," Jiang said, speaking before 2,114 delegates amid tight security in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Despite the talk of capitalist-style prosperity, the meeting was suffused with the classic crimson trappings of communism. Jiang and dozens of senior party members sat on a stage beneath a 20-foot-high hammer-and-sickle symbol flanked by Chinese flags.

A key issue at the meeting is expected to be Jiang's invitation last year to businesspeople to join the party. The president appears to have fought off opposition from old-style Marxists, and this congress is expected to amend the party constitution to give capitalists a formal role in it.

Jiang, 76, is expected to step down as party leader within days. Next in line appears to be 59-year-old Vice President Hu Jintao, who also is expected to take over as Chinese president when Jiang's term ends next year.

Hu and other younger leaders seem unlikely to waver from pursuing what the party calls a "socialist market economy."