BEIJING. Dec 31 Chinas Communist Party will nurture a young elite as Its next leaders to ensure Its grip on power Into the next century and to prevent the re emergence of another gerontocracy like the owe now headed by Deng Xiaoping, reports Reuter

The ratio of young leaders In the party central committee and In central government will be "signlftcantlv enlarged" by the year 2000 the Xinhua news agency said on Friday

"A considerable amount of talented leaders In their 3Os and 40* will be embraced by the perty and government bod les above the country level.' it qiioted an official of the organ Isatlon department of the ren tml tommltlw «« saving

In the late- 198Os. paramount leader Deng Xiaoping spearheaded a drive to rejuve nate China a leadership by persuading old guard revohi for new bkxxi

A* part of that agonisingly long campaign Deng stepped down from hi* last official post as bead of the powerful Central Military Commission In 1990

Even though he no longer holds any official position. Deng remains the final arbiter of power in China as wrxfer lined when he emerged dr a mat fealty out of formal retire ment to launch a campaign to push economic reforms In 1992

Believed io be in falling Iwnllti hr is suit rrstwefrd »•

the most Influential man tn China but also as a man who failed to change a centurtes-oM system of reposing power in one man until death

Tie fostering of a young elite boned by Mcing hardships that test their abihtles. will ensure a pool of fresh blood to take over from current leader* the partv official said

The traditional lifetime tenure of leader* has been abolished, time limits for terms of office and age limits to retirement have been set and procedures and standards for appointing leaders have been established ' Xinhua quoted the central committee official a* «v1ng