BEIJING, (Reuters)

Alarmed by stubborn corruption and public unrest, China's President Hu Jintao is steering the ruling Communist Party to reforms that will make officials more answerable.

But he has resisted calls for deeper democratic change, and critics inside the party question whether his wary changes are enough to cure the country's ills.

The party's Central Committee met in Beijing this week to discuss Hu's ideas for a "harmonious society", including expanding "inner-party democracy", the term for strengthened consultation and competition inside the ruling hierarchy.