On the other hand, Hu Jintao was also promoted early in his career by Song Ping, a hard-liner, and so the accuracy of the labels is open to question.

There he caught the eye of a veteran party stalwart named Song Ping, who was recruiting young talent for senior posts.

Among the officials who appeared today on television were the Politburo members Wu Xueqian and Song Ping and an alternate member, Ding Guangen.

On 1 September 1986, the communist paramount leader Chen Yun advised to set up the academy, and put Song Ping was in charge of the task.

At Song Ping's suggestion, in 1982 central Party authorities invited Hu to Beijing to study at the Central Party School.

Both of those resigning from the standing committee - Song Ping, 75, and Yao Yilin, also 75 - are hard-liners, and their retirement will be a blow to the party conservatives.

Chinese officials say that another top Politburo member, Song Ping, recently met with Mr. Li and told him that some "old comrades" were unhappy with his comments.

Joining them in the front row were Wan Li, 81; Bo Yibo, 89; Song Ping, 80, and Song Renqiong, 88.

Yao Yilin and Song Ping, both hardline conservatives, were removed from the standing committee.

Song Ping, one of the six members of the Politburo's standing committee, heads the committee to prepare for the congress, the Chinese say.