Explainer | Communist Party’s ‘sixth plenum’: what is a plenum, and why is it one of China’s most important political events?
- Next week’s secretive gathering of the most senior party figures allows the leadership to make key policy announcements and pave the way for new laws
- The latest event is expected to include a major resolution on the party’s achievements and pave the way for next year’s leadership reshuffle
More than 370 full and alternate members of the Central Committee, the party’s highest governing body, will gather in Beijing for their sixth plenary session ahead of next year’s National Congress, when a major leadership reshuffle is expected.
What is a plenum?
A plenum is a meeting attended by all full and alternate members of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. Those attending hold the country’s most important offices and include members of the party leadership, ministers, regional party chiefs, senior generals and the executives of state-owned conglomerates.
A plenum has been convened at least once a year since 1977, a year after Mao Zedong’s death. Depending on the agenda, some last only a day, while most take no longer than five days.
The current 19th Central Committee was elected in 2017 and will sit until next year’s National Congress, when a new committee will be appointed.
Each committee usually holds seven plenary sessions during its five-year term. The sixth plenary session usually focuses on ideology and party building and can pave the way for the leadership reshuffle at the party congress the following year.
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