A NEW central leadership will be elected at the first plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), after the conclusion of the 19th CPC National Congress, a spokesman said yesterday.

After the plenary session, members of the new Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee will meet Chinese and foreign journalists, Tuo Zhen, spokesman for the Party congress, said at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The congress opened at 9 a.m. today at the Great Hall of the People and will conclude Oct. 24.

China National Radio, China Central Television and China Radio International are live broadcasting the opening ceremony. Viewers can also access the event at several web portals including www.people.com.cn and www.xinhuanet.com.

There are a total of 2,354 delegates and specially invited delegates to the congress.

A 22-member delegate credentials committee was approved at a preparatory meeting presided over by Xi Jinping, which was attended by 2,307 Party delegates and specially invited delegates. A presidium of the congress consisting of 243 members was also approved.

The presidium held its first meeting yesterday afternoon, approving a report on the examination of delegates’ qualifications by the delegate credentials committee.

Presided over by the congress’ secretary-general Liu Yunshan, the meeting approved a list of the presidium’s 42-member Standing Committee, including Xi.

The agenda of the congress includes hearing and examining a report submitted by the 18th CPC Central Committee, examining a work report of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, deliberating and adopting an amendment to the Party’s constitution, electing the Party’s 19th Central Committee and its 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The congress will map out overall reform measures about the country’s political system and other systems, Tuo said.

Based on the systematic review of achievements and experience of reform in the past, the congress will strive to address outstanding issues that have emerged in practice and work out overall reform measures, Tuo told reporters.

“We will unswervingly move toward the goal of improving and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China’s State governance system and capability,” Tuo said.

“All the achievements China has made in reform and development since the launch of reform and opening up nearly four decades ago will not be possible without political system reform, and this will remain the case in the future,” he said.

The spokesman said China has achieved major and historic achievements in political system reform, which have provided important guarantees for deepening reform in other fields and created better conditions for economic and social development.

China will not copy and replicate the models of other countries in political system reform, the spokesman said.

“Our unique cultural traditions, unique historic experience and unique national conditions determine that we must pursue a path of development suited to our own features,” he said.

The CPC will amend its constitution at the congress to represent new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core, Tuo said.

The amendment will include key theories and strategic thoughts presented by a report to be delivered at the congress.

The CPC national congress, usually held every five years, unveils new leadership and sets a blueprint for national development for the next five years and beyond.