China's Jiang bolsters power base

Jiang proteges are expected to be made leaders of major cities and provinces ahead of the next party congress

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin has consolidated his grip on power with the likely re-election of crony Jia Qinglin as party secretary of Beijing.

The Beijing municipal Communist party authorities are holding a congress to elect members of the ruling party committee, which will be headed by the party secretary.

Since the position of Beijing party secretary has Politburo status, Jia's re-election will ensure that Jiang will have one more representative on the Politburo after the latter's expected retirement at the 16th Communist Party Congress later this year.

Jia, whose friendship with Jiang dates from the 1970s, was at one time the president's candidate for prime minister.

However, his political fortune took a hit in the wake of the multi-billion yuan smuggling scandal in Xiamen, a coastal city of Fujian Province.

Since both Jia and his wife had worked in senior posts in Fujian from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, there was innuendo about their alleged involvement with the case.

"Jia's re-election as Beijing party secretary testifies to Jiang's ability to push the prospects of members of his personal faction," said a party source in the capital.

"Until recently, there was speculation that despite his relatively young age of 62, Jia was heading toward semi-retirement," the source said.

Speculation

Speaking at the opening of the municipal party congress last weekend, Jia pledged to significantly boost infrastructure spending to make the capital ready for the Summer Olympics of 2008.

Sources close to the congress said Mayor Liu Qi, who played a key role in winning the Beijing Olympics bid, would likely retain his current position.

Earlier this year there had been intense speculation that Liu might be promoted to party secretary if Jia were to retire.

Other Jiang proteges are also expected to be made leaders of major provinces and cities in the run-up to the 16th congress.

Education minister Chen Zhili, a former vice-party secretary of Shanghai, is tipped to return soon to Shanghai as party secretary.

Since the position of Shanghai party secretary also carries Politburo status, Jiang will be assured of another voice of support in the ruling council.