Delegates gather in Beijing for key Party congress

Over 2,200 delegates are gathering in Beijing to attend the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, which starts Oct. 18.

Delegates of Hunan Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

Starting Sunday, delegates arrived in the capital by plane, train and bus for the congress, an event held every five years that sets out China's future development.

Delegates of Yunnan Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing.  [Photo: Xinhua]

An 18th CPC Central Committee report, a CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection work report and an amendment to the CPC Constitution will be submitted for deliberation at the congress.

"Besides deliberating the two reports and the amendment, we as delegates will elect a new CPC Central Committee and a new CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. These are the three key things we must focus on," said Zhao Qinghua, head nurse of First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

Delegates of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

The congress will review the Party's work over the past five years and map out what the Party and the country need to do in the next five years and beyond.

Zhao brought three documents to Beijing -- a speech made by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping during a tour to Chongqing in 2016, her own observation of medical reform in Chongqing and a report on senior citizen healthcare.

"It's important for me to bring the voice of the people I represent to the congress and make suggestions accordingly," she said.

Delegates of Gansu Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

The delegates represent over 89 million CPC members nationwide. Attendees include high-ranking government officials, Party leaders, and military officers as well as grassroots Party members such as sportsmen, farmers, technicians, doctors and teachers.

Zhao Shiyong, CPC secretary of Suining city in Sichuan Province, said he expected the successes of the Party over the last five years to be put into theory and serve as an example for the future.

"Personally, I will look to how the Party will plan in protecting the environment and attaining quality growth," he said.

Pi Jinjun (1st R), a delegate of Shandong Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), receives an interview upon his arrival in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. Delegates of Shandong Province to the 19th CPC National Congress arrived in Beijing on Monday. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

A total of 2,287 delegates have been selected to attend this year's congress. Of them, 771 are from the grassroots, accounting for 33.7 percent of the total.

"General Secretary Xi is a man of action. I expect him to continue to lead the country and guide people to build a better life with our own hands," said Deng Yingxiang, Party secretary of Mahuai, a small village in southwest China's Guizhou province.

Zhang Xuesong (2nd R) and Chen Linjing (1st R), delegates of Hebei Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), receive interviews upon their arrival in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. Delegates of Hebei Province to the 19th CPC National Congress arrived in Beijing on Monday. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

She expressed hope that the new leadership would continue to push ahead with the anti-poverty work.

"In three years, I believe each and every family at our village will have a car and a big house as they wish," she said.

Delegates of Shanghai Municipality to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]

"The great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new phase. The congress will tell the world what our new goals are and what we should do to achieve the goals," said Liu Jiongtian, a delegate and president of Zhengzhou University.

"I expect the congress to respond to the needs and dreams of the people, make strategic and forward-looking decisions, and lead the people to build an even more prosperous and stronger nation," said Chen Jizhuang, a delegate and chairman of Benxi Steel Group in Liaoning Province.

Wu Xie'en (R), a delegate of Jiangsu Province to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), receives an interview upon his arrival in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2017. Delegates of Jiangsu Province to the 19th CPC National Congress arrived in Beijing on Monday. The congress will start on Oct. 18 in Beijing. [Photo: Xinhua]