Chinese ruler sets face against reforms

1.  PRESIDENT HU JINTAO, China’s new leader, has dashed hopes that he would move towards serious political reform by calling Western-style democracy a “dead end”.

2.  “History indicates that indiscriminately copying Western political systems is a blind alley for China,” Mr Hu said yesterday in a nationally televised speech to thousands of senior party members at the Great Hall of the People.

3.  The President also sought to balance his public opposition to Western-style democracy with an explicit commitment to fighting corruption. The two subjects are seen as inextricably linked.

4.  Mr Hu said: “Currently some local governments and government departments fail to strictly abide by or implement laws. Local protectionism, power abuse and corruption have greatly impaired the image of the party and state.”

5.  At the central committee meeting, which will last several days, observers will pay close attention to the speeches of senior military officers to detect signs of allegiance to Mr Jiang or Mr Hu.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,173-1264958,00.html