The Communist Party of China (CPC) will actively push ahead intra-Party democracy, said Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, on Tuesday.

Li told a meeting of directors of Party organization departments of all levels that they should fully implement policies made at the 17th CPC National Congress to protect the rights of Party members.

He had said in an earlier article published on the People's Daily that practice had shown that inadequate intra-Party democracy always coincided with inadequate protection of Party members' rights.

"The protection of the democratic rights of Party members is the foundation of intra-Party democracy."

Li also asked the participants at the meeting to further reform the human resources system of the Party and to attract talented people into the Party.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2007)