Chinese vice-president wants more party debate

BEIJING, Mar 2 (Reuters) China's ruling Communist Party needs greater debate and ''inner-party democracy'' to improve the way it governs the country, Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong was quoted as saying by state media today.

Speaking ahead of the party's 17th Congress to be held later this year, Zeng was quoted by the People's Daily, the party's mouthpiece, as saying party members should not be afraid to speak out.

''Zeng especially highlighted the importance of inner-party democracy, quoting it as the key to the improvement of the party's creativity, governance capability and official integrity,'' the official Xinhua news agency said.

Zeng was speaking at the opening ceremony for the new term at a communist party school for senior officials.

''He said the party should also promote education on democracy, anti-corruption, and Communist theories to ranking officials, to further strengthen governance capability, and guarantee a fast economic and social development,'' it said.

''Inner-party democracy'' is a term used to describe strengthened consultation and competition inside the ruling hierarchy.

President Hu Jintao hopes that making rules clearer and exposing officials to scrutiny will help stem abuses recently highlighted by the fall of Shanghai's party boss, Chen Liangyu, who was accused of misusing pension funds and helping enrich cronies, say party academics.

But Hu and other leaders have repeatedly rejected calls for deeper democratic transformation, keeping any reforms within the limits of one-party rule.

Political reforms grounded to a virtual halt after the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. While the top leadership has ruled out Western-style democracy, local authorities have experimented with indigenous forms of checks and balances in recent years to find viable ways to curb rampant corruption.

The party, which has monopolised power since the 1949 Communist revolution, is expected to reshuffle its top leadership at the Congress.

Reuters DH VP0745