China’s Xi Jinping Begins Key Party Plenum as Fourth-Term Bid Looms

China’s Communist Party on Monday began a four-day key plenary session in Beijing, with President Xi Jinping pushing for stronger party discipline, tighter governance and continued efforts to combat corruption. The fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee will run from October 26 to 29 and comes ahead of next year’s Communist Party Congress, where Xi is widely expected to seek a historic fourth term as party chief.

Xi, who is also China’s president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a work report to the plenum on behalf of the Politburo and explained a draft decision on major issues concerning the continued strengthening of comprehensive and rigorous Party self-governance, state media reported. The document examines the party’s governance challenges and sets out plans to strengthen discipline and oversight.

The meeting is being closely watched for signs of further consolidation of Xi’s authority and possible personnel changes ahead of the 2027 Party Congress. While Xi’s fourth term is widely expected, the formal leadership selection will take place through the party’s political process next year.

Xi has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign since coming to power in 2012, resulting in the removal or punishment of hundreds of senior officials and military figures. The campaign has increasingly focused not only on corruption but also on officials accused of disloyalty, bureaucratic inaction and failure to implement central directives.

The plenum also comes as China faces economic challenges, including weak domestic demand and a prolonged property-sector downturn. The meeting is expected to provide further signals on the party’s priorities before its leadership reshuffle next year.

The discussions are being held behind closed doors, with a formal summary of the decisions and outcomes expected after the four-day session concludes on Thursday.