BEIJING, Feb 20 (AFP) - The Chinese Communist Party moved immediately Thursday to appeal for national unity following Deng Xiaoping's death, stressing the central role of President Jiang Zemin.

In a statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency, the party

central committee called on "the whole party, the whole army and the people of various ethnic groups to turn grief into strength."

"We must uphold and safeguard party's unity ... and unite more conscientiously around the party central committee with comrade Jiang Zemin at the core," it said.

The statement appeared at the end of the lengthy official announcement of Deng's death.

Jiang has long been recognised as the immediate successor to Deng, albeit as the head of a consensus government, rather than a supreme leader in the mould of Deng or Mao Zedong.

Many analysts have questioned whether Jiang has the necessary authority and respect, especially within the military, to hold on to the reins of power in the long term.

The central committee statement, however, was unequivocal.

Under Jiang's leadership, the party, army and Chinese of all ethnic groups can remain "firm, unshakable and full of confidence," it said.

"We will certainly be able to carry out the great cause of socialist reform, opening up and modernization drive pioneered by Comrade Deng Xiaoping and triumphantly reach our destination."

National unity will be a priority issue during the post-Deng transition, amid growing signs of unrest in Tibet and the Moslem-majority region of Xinjiang.