China's leaders to hold key conclave next week

China's ruling Communist Party leaders will meet next week to discuss "modernizing the country's governance system", state media said Thursday, as Beijing battles unrest in Hong Kong, a lingering trade war, and a slowing economy.

The much-delayed Fourth Plenum of the party's Central Committee is a closed-door meeting of high-ranking officials where the country's roadmap and future direction is discussed.

Next week's meet will run from October 28 to 31 in Beijing, and will be the first since February 2018.

State news agency Xinhua said the dates were confirmed at a meeting Thursday of the Central Committee presided over by President Xi Jinping.

State-run Global Times said on Twitter that the Central Committee Political Bureau will consider issues including "upholding and improvement of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, including modernizing the country's governance system and capacity."