The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) opened its 16th National Congress in Beijing 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 -- were present at the opening session of the congress.

More than 1,500 delegates from all over the country attended the event.

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 of2007, up 2.64 percent from 2006. About one in four, or 24.8 percent, of Chinese youth were members, according to the CYLC Central Committee.

Li Changchun, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the opening session.

Lu Hao, first secretary of the Secretariat of the 15th CYLC Central Committee and executive chairman of the congress presidium, also praised the young people including students studying overseas for the patriotism they displayed during the Torch relay process of the Beijing Olympic Games.

He promised the CYLC would continue to lead the young people to play their positive role in building China into a fairly well-off society.

Six children also addressed the meeting, representing those from the Sichuan quake region, minority ethnic groups, the Beijing Olympic torch bearers and handicapped children.

During the congress, which ends Friday, the CYLC will elect its16th Central Committee and revise its charter, according to the agenda passed at the preparatory meeting held Monday.