China prepares for CPC Congress

The first delegates from the far-away province of Inner Mongolia started arriving on Sunday for China's most important political event in five years: the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Congress could herald changes in leadership and pave a more powerful role for Chinese President and Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, reports Efe news.

Security was tightened in Beijing ahead of the Congress, which will start on Wednesday and normally lasts a week, although an official end date has not been announced.

Since the event is only held every five years, the approved decisions are significant and have long-term relevance.

A total of 2,287 party delegates are expected to attend the event at the Great Hall of The People at Tiananmen Square.

The CPC held a meeting on Sunday with smaller political parties in China and Xi called for better cooperation for the progress and development of the country, according to a party statement.

Analysts and diplomats were focusing on changes within the leadership of the party - which has ruled the country without opposition since 1949 - expected to take place.

The Congress has to elect a new central committee, which includes 205 full and 171 alternate members currently, before choosing a Politburo from the newly elected members.

Subsequently, the Politburo will choose the permanent committee, the true centre of power of the CPC and China, which is currently led by Xi Jinping and has seven members.

Speculation has been rife about possible additions to the central committee, although most experts consider Chen Miner, secretary of the party in Chonqing region and a trusted aide of Xi, as a favourite for inclusion.

Unless the rules are changed, five members of the committee are set to retire, including Wang Qishan, the chief of the anti-corruption committee, who has led a five-year-long campaign against corruption launched by the President.

Another key question is if the congress will elect a new Vice President who could be the heir-apparent to Xi, who himself emerged as the future leader in the 2007 Party Congress before his actual ascent to power in 2012.

The president is expected to emerge stronger in the Congress, since apart from the appointment of his supporters in the new structures, the gathering is also expected to modify the Constitution of the party.

Another important appointment is of the next President of the central bank after the incumbent Zhou Xiaochuan retires in January.

Foreign government and companies are watching out for the opening of the economy for private and foreign entities, a long-standing promise which has not been implemented.

Other matters to be tackled by the Congress include a reform in the giant state sector and possible changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including a reduction in corporate debt.

Official information and propaganda mechanisms have intensified their campaign in recent weeks ahead of the Congress, hailing the achievements of the country during Xi's regime and the reforms carried out by the CPC in the last few decades.

--IANS

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