China’s Communist Party opens four-day talks on discipline and governance

Xi Jinping opened a four-day Communist Party meeting in Beijing on October 26, bringing together roughly 300 members of the party’s Central Committee.

The closed-door talks will consider a draft plan for tighter discipline and stronger party self-governance, including measures to tackle corruption and improve how officials carry out decisions.

Xi’s long-running anti-corruption campaign has removed thousands of officials, and some committee seats are vacant while other members are under investigation.

The meeting is being watched for clues about China’s future leadership, ahead of a party congress next year where Xi is widely expected to seek a fourth term.

It comes as China faces weak domestic spending and a property crisis, as well as difficult relations with the United States.

The committee may also decide whether to appoint new members to the body that oversees the military, though it could wait until next year.

A summary of the meeting’s outcomes is expected after it ends on October 29.