But it seems unlikely that the third plenary session of the party's central committee, involving more than 300 members, will discuss any significant political reforms or top-level personnel changes, including whether Mr Jiang should retire as commander in chief of the armed forces.

This has been the subject of speculation by some overseas media and analysts.

The central committee holds its plenary session once or twice a year to discuss and set the tone for tackling the most important issues facing the country, leaving the government to draft and execute policies.

The forthcoming session, expected to be held in September or October, is significant as it will provide an opportunity for top-level members of the party to review and discuss the first year of the new leadership under President Hu Jintao, who is also party general secretary.

The leadership has had to contend with the Sars outbreak, controversy stemming from the crackdown on private businessmen and the protests in Hong Kong on July 1 over a proposed security law.

Mr Hu replaced Mr Jiang as the party chief at the party's 16th congress in November and as president in March, marking the first orderly transfer of power in the party's history.

Analysts familiar with party affairs have dismissed as nonsense speculation that many party elders have pressured Mr Jiang to step down as the chairman of the Central Military Commission at the plenary session.

They said Mr Jiang had no intention of stepping down this year or next and would continue to wield considerable influence behind the scenes.

Some analysts said Mr Jiang still advised the new leadership under President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao on major policy issues, including their decision to sack health minister Zhang Wenkang and Beijing mayor Meng Xuenong for their initial handling of the Sars outbreak.

They said the session was expected to focus on discussing and passing a decision to revise the state constitution to include Mr Jiang's theory, which was written into the party's constitution in November.

The theory, an attempt by the party to catch up with the realities of a fast-changing society, calls on the party to represent all advanced elements in society, including the booming private sector.

Earlier reports indicated that the mainland's legislature, the National People's Congress, had set up a leading group headed by NPC chairman Wu Bangguo to oversee the drafting of amendments to the state constitution. These amendments are expected to be passed at the plenary session of the NPC, scheduled for next March.

The mainland-backed Wen Wei Po newspaper had earlier indicated that the revision of the constitution would be small, dampening hopes that the amendments were likely to include a clause stating clearly that private property would be protected.

Analysts said top party officials also would discuss further economic restructuring. Many economic reform programmes have slowed down partly due to the transfer of power which took place from last November to March.

Some of the main issues likely to be discussed include job creation, the handling of emergencies and financial and agricultural reform.