"To develop democratic politics under socialism with Chinese characteristics and push forward the system, the scope and procedures of a socialist democratic political system ... is the guarantee that the people rule the country."

The speech was given at a "study session" of the powerful Central Committee ahead of the party's 85th anniversary on Saturday, the report said.

The speech came as Hu appeared to bolster his political power after he removed several top corrupt party leaders and promoted nine top military officials to the rank of general in past weeks.

The moves have signalled that Hu, who became China's top party official in late 2002 and president in 2003, has consolidated political power enough to allow him to seek to implement his own personal political agenda, analysts said.

"We must advance and perfect a democratic system and ensure democratic elections in accordance with the law," Hu said.

China must also advance "the principles of democracy, democratic administration and supervision and amply bring into play the active nature, the driving force and the creativity of the people and of society."

He said democracy was "the basic demand of a ruling Marxist political party," and called for more intra-party democracy.

"We must continue to perfect democracy within the party, strengthen the supervision over political power and ensure that political power bestowed by the people is truly used for the interests of the people," Hu said.

While insisting China was moving towards democracy, Hu has insisted in previous speeches that the country will not adopt Western-style democracy.

Although the party allows elections at the village level, villagers have long complained that they are often manipulated by communist officials.

At the highest level, the Chinese Communist Party has refused to allow more than one candidate to stand for "elections" open only to the highest government officials and party members.

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