"What impressed me most in the report is that China will combat and prevent corruption resolutely as a major political task of the whole Party," said Martin Fackler with Associated Press, "The report says that self-destruction of the Party would be incurred if not fighting against corruption. Showing the relationship between anti-corruption and Party building in such a strong tone and on such an important political congress indicates the strong determination and tougher moves of the Chinese government in this regard."

Oliver August, Beijing Bureau chief of The Times, said that in this report China shows a welcome to non-public sectors of the economy while developing public sectors and the government will encourage, support and orient the growth of non-public economic sectors. Although it has been mentioned before, this time it is in more details and is reiterated as a strategic point of the nation.

In addition, August said, in the report Jiang Zemin appealed to the Taiwan authorities that "on the basis of the one-China principle, let us shelve for now certain political disputes and resume the cross-Straits dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible." Peaceful unification of China is the aspiration of both the Chinese people and the rest of the world, he said.

Kotera Matsuo, a senior journalist with Akahata under Japanese Communist Party, hailed this report as far-reaching and pragmatic. The report shows the direction of building Chinese socialist market economy and covers many issues concerning ordinary Chinese such as poverty relief and reemployment. Kotera Matsuo said he is keen to see how China will solve these problems. Moreover, the report says that China will continue to promote world peace and stability. Kotera believes China will make contributions to world peace and stability like before.

A total of 320 foreign journalists have gathered in Beijing to cover the 16th CPC National Congress.

(china.org.cn by staff reporter Guo Xiaohong, November 10, 2002)