Chinese congress may revamp party leadership

The Chinese Communist Party opens its 12th congress today (Sept. 1). It is expected to abolish the chairmanship and thoroughly revamp the party leadership.

Diplomats say it culminates five years of struggle by Central Committee Vice-Chairman Deng Xiaoping to ensure that China is run along stable, moderate Communist lines. The vice-chairman is expected to step down at the congress to sit on a new central council of advisers. The meeting, expected to last 10 days and to be attended by some 1,600 delegates, will adopt a new party constitution.