The delegates elect the approximately 200 members of the Central Committee, a kind of party parliament. This body, in turn, appoints the 25-member Politburo and the all-powerful Standing Committee - the highest level of leadership - as well as the Secretary General. The composition of the Standing Committee - currently seven men including Xi - is expected to be announced the day after the end of the party congress.

The party congress is taking place under strict precautionary measures because of the zero-Covid policy. Organizers and journalists had to go to a cordoned-off area two days before the start of the party conference.