During the seven day sitting, the 17^th Congress of the CPC discussed and adopted the Work Report of the 16^th CPC Central Committee, a report of the Party CC’s Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Party Constitution (revision). It also elected a 127 member Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Taking place at a pivotal period of the reform, the most important political task of the congress was to come up with answers for a series of important issues that the country was facing on its progress, including Marxism-Leninism embedded with Chinese characteristics, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents.

The congress also went all out to promote the scientific outlook on development on the basis of social harmony, environmental protection and energy conservation, in addition to economic expansion.

The congress has summarised lessons learned by the Party, State and people of China in all fields over the past nearly 30 years of reform, particularly the last five years since the 16^th Party Congress.

The Congress agreed that the reform was the right choice deciding the fate of contemporary China. It is the appropriate path for China to advance toward socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is considered that only socialism could save China, so the CPC was determined to follow the chosen path of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Congress came up with new requirements aiming to build a better society with a vigourous economic development, social democracy, improved protection of people’s rights, social equality and justice.

The Congress emphasised the significance of Party-building work in the course of building its own style of socialist development. It called on all party members to learn and thoroughly understand uniquely Chinese socialist theory and consolidate the Party leadership while promoting the practice of democracy within the Party.

The Congress also called on the party members to unite and step up the fight against corruption.

The 17^th CPC’s outlook on scientific development was a great significant decision adopted by the Chinese Party in its history of development. The outlook was incorporated into the Party  Constitution.

Scientific development is the leading strategic ideology of the country in its cause of developing socialism.

The revised Party’s Constitution had enshrined the ideology of building China into a modern, prosperous, democratic, civilised and harmonious socialist country.

The issue of “democracy” has been described by the Chinese press as a highlight at the 17^th CPC. The word “democracy” was mentioned 60 times in the Work Report presented by Party General Secretary Hu Jintao.  The CPC considered “People’s democracy is the fate of socialism”; “Democracy within the Party is vital to the existence of the Party”.

Democracy has gained an important position in the political life of China.

The Chinese people have spoken highly of the results of the 17^th Party Congress. Zhu Dan, from Beijing said, “the 17^th CPC is an important political event. The Chinese people will try to seize this strategic opportunity to build China into a mighty socialist country”.

Wangping, a worker at a private enterprise in Beijing said, “I hope policies adopted by the Party will be brought to life so that everyone can equally enjoy the fruits of development. I’m totally confident in the country’s future development.”

In his closing speech, Party General Secretary Hu Jintao said, policies adopted at the 17^th Party Congress would further enhance the Party’s leading role and have a strategic significance in speeding up the cause of building Chinese socialism.