China opens national party congress

HONG KONG (Yonhap) -- China opened Thursday the national congress of the ruling communist party, deemed Beijing's most important political meeting since 2002, to anoint the next group of leaders in the world's second-largest economy.

The opening ceremony of the 18th National Congress, which was held at Beijing's Assembly Hall of the Great Hall of the People, was broadcast live by the state-run CCTV.

The National Congress, which is held every five years, will see a once-in-a-decade leadership transition, with a new generation of Chinese leaders set to take over from the outgoing ruling elite.

Incumbent Vice President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier Li Keqiang are expected to succeed outgoing President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, respectively, early next year.

A new group of Chinese top leaders will be appointed during the 7-day congress, the congress spokesman said.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo, the most central group of people who oversee the party, will meet journalists after the party congress closes next Wednesday.

Seven people, including Xi and Li, are to be on the next standing committee, compared to the current nine, many China watchers say.

Meanwhile, Xi is acting as secretary-general of the event.

The major agenda for the congress will include hearing and examining the report submitted by the 17th Party Central Committee, and deliberating and adopting the amendment to the Party's Constitution.

A total of 2,270 delegates were elected to represent 82.6 million members across China in the 18th Party Congress. (Yonhap)