Bracing for leadership changes in the ruling Communist Party of China due for next year, Chinese legislators on Sunday approved plans to change the course of their export-driven economy while firmly ruling out multi-party democracy.
"Political development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the only correct road for China's development and progress as proved by practice," read a resolution approved by Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference which ended its fortnight long meeting on Sunday.
"(We should) neither deviate nor waver from the path at any time, under any circumstances," said the resolution of the group with nearly 2000 nominated professionals.
The National People's Congress, China's national legislature mainly comprising nearly 3000 CPC members elected by provincial legislatures and local governments, will formally conclude its session with a press conference by Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday.
Earlier in his work report delivered two days ago, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo had warned that China would slip into a possible "abyss of internal disorder" if it strays from the "correct political orientation".
China will never adopt a "multiparty revolving-door system or other Western-style political models", he said, dismissing attempts by dissident groups to stir up Egyptian style protests, calling for a democratic set-up.
"On the basis of China's conditions, we have made a solemn declaration that we will not employ a system of multiple parties holding office in rotation," said Wu, who is ranked second after President Hu Jintao in the CPC hierarchy.
In the CPC order, Premier Wen Jiabao is ranked third followed by Chairman of the CPPCC Jia Qinglin in the nine-member Politburo. The CPC itself heads for a leadership overhaul as Hu and the top four leaders are expected to be replaced by a relatively young set of leadership headed by Vice President Xi Jinping.
The leadership change is scheduled to take place in a top CPC meet due to be held later next year. The leadership succession of the CPC will follow a well laid-out procedure with the vice president, who is ranked sixth, taking over as President while Vice Premier Li Keqiang was expected to take over as the prime minister.
Wen Jiabao, the people's prime minister
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