Editorials on Hong Kong newspapers speak highly of the results achieved by the just concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), believing that the decision on enhancing the Party's governing capabilities adopted by the meeting is not only a milestone in the Party's own building, but also one in vigorously and steadily pushing forward China's political restructuring as well as one in spurring democratic political development.

The plenum set the major tasks and made arrangements for strengthening the Party's ruling capacities, a Wen Wai Po editorial pointed out. After 55 years in power, especially tests since the initiation of the reform and opening up program, the CPC has constantly enriched its experience in and enhanced its abilities of governance. Now China is facing heavy tasks and pressure of development, and the "ruling capabilities" issue has become even more compelling as China's reform and opening-up drive has entered a critical stage, with many deep-rooted problems starting to emerge and outstanding problems affecting social stability. Therefore the strategic decision on enhancing the Party's ruling capabilities is of great and immediate significance to the prosperity of the Chinese nation and long-term stability of the country.

The plenum accepted Jiang Zemin's resignation from the post as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and decided Hu Jintao to succeed him. This is continuation of the smooth realization of old cadres being replaced by younger ones to the central leadership collective at the 16th Party Congress, which showed Jiang's broad mindedness and farsightedness, indicated the institutionalization, standardization and routinization of succession of the new to the old at the high-level leadership of the CPC and the state, and demonstrated the more mature ruling capabilities of the CPC, which is of great significance to the country's long-term stability, the editorial said.

In China, reform of the ruling Party is the central part of reform to the political system, an editorial of Ta Kung Pao noted. At the 16th Party Congress two years ago, the CPC put forward the subject of enhancing ruling capabilities. At the just concluded plenum, participants fully expounded the concept, foundation, strategy, mode, resources and environment of the CPC's ruling, and set the general goal of enhancing capabilities of governance--to build the CPC into a ruling party that dedicates itself to the interests of the public and governs for the benefit of the people, that rules by science, democracy and law, that is realistic, pragmatic, innovative, diligent, efficient, clean and honest. The new leadership also set a new guideline for "actively developing internal democracy and promoting people's democracy", fully demonstrating the CPC's determination to push forward democratic politics.

The takeover by Hu Jintao the post of CMC Chairman from Jiang Zemin marks the final completion of transition from the third-generation leadership to the fourth �Cgeneration of the CPC. As the core of the third generation leadership collective, Jiang Zemin has made outstanding contribution to the state and the people, the editorial commented, adding that as chief of the new leadership, Hu Jintao has shown his ability in grasping the overall situation and controlling complicated circumstances. The plenum decision on appointing Hu Jintao as CMC chairman reflects the trust and support given to him by the whole country, the whole Party and the entire army.

This is the first time in the 55-year history of the CPC as the ruling party, that the CPC adopts a decision on ruling capacities in the form of a Central Committee plenum, noted an editorial carried on Hong Kong Commercial Daily, as revealed in the CPC's cognition and vision, the building of governance capabilities has become a major subject of overall, strategic, fundamental and long-term significance which brooks no delay.

As China's ruling party, the CPC is a choice of history and people, whose ruling capabilities have a bearing not only on the Party's future but also on the well-being of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, In the past the CPC has led the Chinese people in scoring world-recognized achievements in construction. Along with increase in its governing abilities, it will definitely be able to achieve the goal of bringing about prosperity of the country, rejuvenation of the nation, happiness of the people and harmony of society, the editorial said.

Hong Kong media also noted that the plenum has made "maintaining long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao" a new governance-related subject under the new situation, believing the decision is very beneficial to the two regions. The media hold that since Hong Kong's return to the embrace of the motherland, the central authority has been unswervingly adhering to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, handling things strictly according to the Basic Law and making all-out efforts in supporting Hong Kong's social stability, economic development and improvement of people's living standards. Facts have proved that Hong Kong's prosperity and stability cannot be attained without support from the central government. Now the central authority has shouldered up bigger responsibility and provided more reliable guarantee for Hong Kong's social harmony, political stability and economic prosperity.

By People's Daily Online