October 22, 2007
News of the successful completion of the 17th Party Congress dominated China’s domestic newspapers today. Many front pages had nothing but Party news; The Beijing News, for example, devoted its entire front page and eight inside pages to reports on the Congress.
The front page of the Beijing Morning Post is slightly more interesting. Its Party Congress coverage includes a Xinhua photo of Hu Jintao chairing the closing ceremony, and another of party bigwigs in front of the party emblem. The headlines, which are shared with all other papers, announce that Hu spoke at the ceremony, new lineups were chosen for the Central Committee and the Discipline and Inspection Commission, and that work reports and amendments to the party constitution were passed. Xinhua articles on the front page list all Central Committee members and alternates.
On the right below the picture are two other party-related articles. The top headline says that the Politburo Standing Committee will meet with journalists Monday morning; the bottom article is a report on a statement by the Beijing delegation on carrying out the instructions of the 17th Party Congress.
Other headlines, listed on the left-hand side of the page:
- “Hong Kong universities will expand mainland recruitment next year”;
- “New Zealand foils plan to assassinate President Bush”: According to New Zealand police, who rounded up 17 terror suspects, Bush was one possible target;
- “Kenyan wins Beijing marathon”: Nephat Kinyanjui won the men’s race; China swept all three women’s medals, with Chen Rong placing first;
- “Pavarotti owed 18 million Euro”: massive debt left behind by the late opera star.