A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official said the Party will attach great importance to recruiting new members from workers, farmers, intellectual, soldiers and cadres to boost its fundamental constituency.

He Guoqiang, head of the Organization Department of CPC Central Committee, said during his recent inspection tour of Fujian Province in east China that recruiting new Party members under the current social situation will constantly broaden the Party's base.

The official also called for efforts to select members of other social strata who are up to the Party's requirements for membership to enhance the Party's influence and cohesive power over society.

The Party decided at its 16th National Congress in 2002 to allow entrepreneurs to join the Party.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2004)