This article analyzes the personnel and policy changes that took place
at the Fifteenth Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Sep
tember 1997. The Congress was noteworthy as the first full meeting of
the CCP following the death of Deng Xiaoping in February 1997. The Con
gress was marked by significant personnel changes in the Party leaders
hip, and new policy departures in the sensitive area of reforming stat
e-owned enterprises. Jiang Zemin was also able to advance, if not cons
olidate, his position at the Congress. However many challenges-of both
policy and personnel-continue to face the CCP leadership in the month
s ahead.