The crucial political meeting is to run for a week from Sunday, with the new leadership line-up expected to be revealed a day later.
«:»This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing . The new leadership line-up of China’s ruling Communist Party will be unveiled next Sunday, a day after its twice-a-decade national congress wraps up on October 22. While Xi Jinping appears set to receive an unprecedented third term as the paramount party leader, there will be sweeping changes in other senior positions. Nearly half the seats on the Central Committee are going to change hands. Some of the members of the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee – the highest decision-making body – are also expected to be replaced. It will mark a new era under Xi’s leadership as he will have a free hand to build a supporting cast around him for the next five years. The reshuffle will only be completed next March at the annual parliamentary sessions after changes in key government posts are confirmed – such as who will take over from Li Keqiang as the new premier. But the congress that starts this week will already offer clear clues when they announce the line-up and the new party hierarchy.
