CHINA’S presumptive ‘President-in-waiting’, Xi Jinping, 59, has been appointed Secretary General of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and his appointment as the Communist Party boss was officially announced at a press conference yesterday in Beijing, ahead of today’s opening of the five-yearly National Congress of the CPC. Jinping is China’s vice president and President Hu Jintao’s anointed successor. He is slated to take over as President of China in March next year, as the world’s second largest economy  goes through a major leadership change with the current leaders, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, about to bow out.
President Jintao and most of the Communist Party leadership are in the process of handing over power to younger colleagues in a once-a-decade political transition. Over the coming months, scores of leaders across the party, the government and the military will be replaced in a painstakingly choreographed and at times divisive change-over at the top of the world’s second-largest economy, which is growing in diplomatic and military strength.
Cai Mingzhao, spokesman for the CPC congress, said Jingping was officially appointed during a preparatory meeting of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Mingzhao also noted that the agenda for the CPC congress was decided at the preparatory meeting yesterday  (Wednesday) afternoon. The agenda are as follows:

— To hear and examine the report submitted by the 17th CPC Central Committee;

— To examine the report on the work of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection;

— To deliberate and adopt the amendment to the Party’s Constitution;

— To elect the Party’s 18th Central Committee and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Hu Jintao presided over the preparatory meeting at the Great Hall of the People, which was attended by 2,280 Party delegates and specially invited delegates.

According to China’s Xinhua news agency, there are a total of 2,325 delegates and specially invited delegates to the 18th Party congress.

A 22-member delegate credentials committee was approved at the meeting. A presidium of the congress consisting of 247 members was also approved.

Those attending the meeting also approved the organizational setup and tasks of the secretariat of the congress.

The congress will open at 9:00 hrs this morning at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, and last seven days till Nov. 14.