Leading members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) gathered Tuesday (Jun 29) afternoon to study ways to improve the party's governing capability in their 14th collective study session.

Chairing the session, open to members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary of the CPC CentralCommittee Hu Jintao stressed conscientiously summarizing the Party's experience in improving governing capability, conducting in-depth analysis and study of the new situation and issues, and energetically strengthening construction of the Party's governing theory so as to provide strong theoretical support to the Party's efforts to improve governing capability.

Hu said strengthening the Party's governing capability is required by the historical missions shouldered by the CPC. It is an important subject that has bearings on the process of building a well-off society in an all-round way, the success or failure of the socialist cause and the lasting peace and stability of the Party and the state.

He said the Party has made significant governing achievements that have attracted the attention of the world and accumulated rich governing experience. The experience should be steadfastly adhered to, be made full use of and be enriched and developed continuously in practice.

As China has a different historical culture, social system and development level from other countries, the Party should not indiscriminately copy governing practices and measures of other ruling parties in the world. However, it should study and borrow from their useful practices to broaden its vision and thoughts andbetter grasp the approach to improving the Party's governing capability with the general situation of the world's political andeconomic development in mind, he said.

As the 83rd birthday of the Party approaches, Hu also sent greetings to all the CPC members and workers for Party affairs across the country on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Professor Huang Zongliang of Beijing University and Professor Lu Xianfu of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee made presentations to the session.
 
When asked about some Taiwan business people's claim on tax inspection, Li said that it is a lawful duty for the mainland taxation authorities to carry out tax inspection, and they treat all enterprises equally---local enterprises, Taiwan enterprises, or foreign-funded enterprises.

"Some celebrities on the Chinese mainland were punished just because they violated laws on tax issues," Li said. "Some people make a fuss about tax inspection in a biased and even distorted way, and they actually have a certain political motivation."

While speaking on the recent visit paid by mainland religious groups to Taiwan, Li said that the Chinese central government has always been encouraging, supporting and promoting cross-straits exchanges in every field, including religious exchanges, since cross-straits exchanges are common demands and aspirations for the compatriots on both sides.

"The cross-straits religious exchanges of the past years play a positive role in promoting communication and understanding across the straits," he said.

However, some relevant Taiwan authorities called the visit as a move for a "united front". "It does not accord with facts," Li said.

"It is an obstruction against the religious exchanges across the straits, and a disrespect for religious groups on both sides," he said.

Editor: Donald