By the numbers, the timing of the congress, held every five years, could not be better. The stock market has more than doubled in value since the start of the year.

The economy, now the world's fourth largest, is headed for its fifth straight year of 10 percent growth or higher. Urban and even lagging rural incomes are rising by double-digit rates.

"The people's livelihood has greatly improved," Hu told the congress delegates at the meeting's opening on Monday. That afternoon the Shanghai Composite index pierced the 6,000 mark for the first time.

Associated Press

http://www.ap.org

Still, what is currently taking place in Beijing is beyond expectation. In the 1990s the national congresses were wrapped "in secrecy". Foreign reporters had only to take a few photographs of the buses parked in rows at Tian'anmen Square and file stories saying: "We presume that some important meeting is in session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing."

But now the CPC is using high-tech methods to flood reporters with information on the congress, showing that it is ready to "enhance the transparency of political events". This really is a big change.

Chosun Ilbo

english.chosun.com

Never before has Beijing gone to such lengths to make life easier for the growing legion of foreign reporters who are trying to get a little closer to the 2,237 party delegates attending the five-yearly party congress in Beijing, the summit of the Party's leadership.

The unprecedented outreach effort and the sheer number of foreign reporters - 1,133 of them, or one for every two Party delegates - allowed to set foot in Beijing distinguish the current Party congress from all previous such occasions. It marks a coming of age in terms of media savvy for the Communist Party.

Forbes

http://www.forbes.com

China's president, Hu Jintao, has pledged to quadruple average Chinese incomes in just 20 years while amplifying previous commitments to a more equitable, clean and consumer-driven economy.

Goldman Sachs yesterday said the central bank was likely to succeed in slowing inflation and economic growth - because it had threatened "severe negative consequences" for commercial banks that exceed lending quotas. Hu said he would fight poverty with welfare, commercial competition and higher minimum wages.

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au

Socialism and Marxism, which have much vitality in the vast land of China, have brought more benefits to the people, enabling the Chinese nation to make gigantic strides, Hu said in his report.

In reference to the future, the CPC reiterated its determination to quadruple per capita GDP by the year 2020 in order to make the country into a moderately comfortable society in which social security coverage will be guaranteed for the entire population.

Granma International, Cuba

http://www.granma.cu

(China Daily 10/19/2007 page6)