国内英语新闻:Chinese vice president stresses Party's role in economic transformation

BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged improvement of the Party's role in leading the economic work as the country pushes forward transformation of the economic development mode.

Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the call at the closing ceremony of a seminar for provincial and ministerial level officials, which began on Feb. 3.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (2nd L), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, speaks during the closing session of a seminar on the implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development and the transformation of the mode of economic development in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 7, 2010. The seminar, attended by the country's provincial and ministerial chiefs, opened on Wednesday at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing

"As the international environment is experiencing major changes and the country's economic development is showing a series of new characteristics, we must... adapt ourselves to changes and accelerate the transformation of the economic development mode," said Xi, adding that the country should sharpen the competitive edge of its economy amid fierce international competition and meet people's expectations for a better life.

He said that in the drive, Party committees must exert full efforts in guidance while Party organizations at lower levels should strengthen their role in implementation with Party members setting examples for others.