Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends the opening session of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 10, 2008.   (Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) opened its 16th National Congress here Tuesday.

Nine members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Hu Jintao,Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang attended the opening session of the congress.

Founded in 1922, the CYLC is a mass youth organization under the leadership of the CPC and plays a supporting role to it.

The number of CYLC members reached 75.439 million at the end of 2007, up 2.64 percent from 2006. About one in four, or 24.8 percent, of Chinese youth were its members, according to the CYLC Central Committee.

During the congress, the CYLC would elect its 16th Central Committee and revise its charter, according to the agenda passed at the preparatory meeting held here Monday.

Li Changchun (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addresses the opening session of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 10, 2008.   (Xinhua Photo)

Source: Xinhua