Jiang praised for 'major breakthrough'

Jiang hopes to pursue his plan with momentum generated by his speech

By Willy Lam
CNN's Senior China Analyst

(CNN) -- President Jiang Zemin hopes his well-received speech at the 80th birthday of the Communist party can enable him to dominate a coming leadership conference.

Top of the agenda at the crucial meetings next month in the Beidaihe resort: personnel arrangements, especially who will be promoted to the Politburo and its Standing Committee next year.

Official media on Monday played up various enthusiastic reactions to Jiang's speech, which is now must reading for cadres, professors and military officers.

One focus of media reactions was how Jiang had broken new ground by allowing private entrepreneurs to join the party.

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Central Party School theorist Li Junru said this was a "major breakthrough and innovation in theory."

Xinhua news agency quoted a number of private entrepreneurs in Wuhan, Hubei province as saying Jiang's speech had at long last legitimized their social status.

A party source said Jiang's decision to admit "red capitalists" to the party had aroused opposition from the party's Maoist or conservative faction.

For example, Jilin Province vice party boss Lin Yanzhi, a rising star in the conservative faction, has reiterated that admitting private entrepreneurs would emasculate the party.

"Jiang has scored points with upwardly mobile classes such as private entrepreneurs," the source said. "Moreover, moderate and liberal wings of the party also support Jiang's new line."

He added that with such backing, Jiang might be able to play a dominant role at the Beidaihe meetings.

At this stage, a number of protégés he hoped to promote to the Politburo Standing Committee, including head of Organization Department Zeng Qinghong and Guangdong party boss Li Changchun, have not received enough support from party cadres or rank and file.

Analysts said according the bosses, managers and professionals a higher political status would also smooth China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In internal discussions, Premier Zhu Rongji and State Councilor Wu Yi had pointed out WTO was a question of the "fight for talents" between state firms and multinationals.

The analysts said if a larger number of capable entrepreneurs and professionals could be hired to work in government departments or state firms, China's competitiveness post-WTO would be enhanced.

In China, party membership is still a prerequisite for appointments to most senior party and state positions.