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Businessmen eye key China roles
By CNN Senior China Analyst Willy Wo-Lap Lam
(CNN) -- The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is considering inducting several prominent private businessmen into its ruling Central Committee. This unprecedented move, to take place at the 16th party Congress, will demonstrate the CCP's commitment to market reforms as well as political liberalization. Prime candidates for elevation include the few tens of non-state entrepreneurs who have already been appointed to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory council. Also in the running are businessmen active in official or semi-official chambers of commerce such as the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC). Top on the 16th Congress' agenda is the election of the Central Committee's 190 to 200 full members and around 150 alternate members. "Senior Politburo members, particularly President Jiang [Zemin] are leaning toward letting several businessmen become full or at least alternate Central Committee members," said a party source in Beijing. This move will substantiate Jiang's announcement in July last year that the CCP is ready to welcome into its fold members of the new classes of entrepreneurs, professionals and returnees from abroad. Among the hot favorites to get into the Central Committee is billionaire Liu Yonghao, Chairman of the Hope Group and also a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC. Liu Chuanzhi, Chairman of the computer giant, the Legend Group, and a ACFIC member, is also cited as a possibility. Unlike nouveau riche, "cowboy businessmen" such as the recently detained agri-business tycoon Yang Bin -- who have made their fortune through speculating in the property or stock markets -- the likes of the two Lius have built their empires through solid investments in agriculture and manufacturing. Equally important, the latter have demonstrated their loyalty to the party leadership. In the wake of the thorough crackdown on tax evasion launched in early summer by Premier Zhu Rongji, a number of well-known private businessmen have either left the country or scaled down their operations. It is understood Jiang hopes the induction of a couple of big-name businessmen into the party Central Committee could boost the confidence of law-abiding, non-controversial private entrepreneurs. The party charter, to be revised at the Congress, may contain new provisions guaranteeing the sanctity of private capital as well as the properties of businessmen.
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