China’s Communist Party on cusp of history as Xi Jinping sets stage for landmark resolution at sixth plenum

Nearly 400 top party officials are in Beijing for four-day conclave expected to adopt a ‘historical resolution’ on the party’s achievements in centenary year

The only two such previous resolutions, in 1945 under Mao and 1981 under Deng, heralded momentous changes for China and cemented the power of the top leader

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University students in Wuhan display the flag of the Communist Party of China to mark its 100th anniversary. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:26pm, 8 Nov 2021Updated: 5:32pm, 15 Apr 2022

China’s top Communist Party officials have started a landmark closed-door meeting where they are expected to adopt a monumental motion that reviews the party’s achievements in its 100-year history.

Little had been revealed about the agenda for the sixth plenary session of the Central Committee, the party’s top governing body, as the four-day session got under way in Beijing on Monday. However, expectations are that delegates will consider and pass a “historical resolution” on the party’s achievements and pave the way for next year’s leadership decisions.

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China’s communist leaders gather for ‘sixth plenum’

Nearly 400 full and alternate members of the Central Committee gathered at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing on Monday to hear President Xi Jinping – who is also the party’s general secretary – speak about the resolution.

Xi delivered a work report on behalf of the Politburo, the 25-member centre of power within the party, and explained a “draft resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the [party’s] 100 years of endeavours,” state news agency Xinhua said in announcing the opening of the plenary session.

About 200 full members of the committee are expected to vote for and adopt the resolution on Thursday, the last day of the plenum.

Each committee generally holds seven plenary sessions during its five-year term, and sixth plenary sessions have traditionally focused on ideology and party organisation. However, the sixth plenum of the 19th Central Committee that began on Monday was particularly significant because a “historical resolution” was tabled.