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China’s Communist Party to hold twice-a-decade congress in October
- Most important decisions are usually made ahead of the event, with the date announced once the key negotiations are over
- More than 2,000 delegates will gather in Beijing, and President Xi Jinping is expected to start a third term at the end of the congress
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China’s ruling Communist Party will hold its national congress from October 16, according to state media, an event that will usher in the top leadership for the next five years.
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The date was set during a monthly meeting of the Politburo, the party’s decision-making body, official news agency Xinhua reported on Tuesday.
Beijing tends to announce the date of key political events shortly before they take place – in this case 47 days before the twice-a-decade congress is due to begin.
The announcement usually indicates that most of the closed-door negotiations on key positions are over, though there could be last-minute adjustments. The most important decisions are usually made ahead of the party congress, which largely serves as a formal occasion to legitimise and communicate those decisions to delegates.
It will be held at a similar time of year to the last party congress in 2017 and the one in 2007, both of which took place in October. The timing suggests that preparation for the event has gone smoothly despite the domestic and international challenges.
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