Plenary sessions since 2012

Seven plenary sessions are usually held during every fiveyear term of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The incumbent 18th CentralCommittee has held six plenaries since the Party’s 18th National Congress, in 2012.

The meeting saw the election of the Central Committee’s Political Bureau and the bureau’s Standing Committee as well as the general secretary. Nominations for members of the Central Committee Secretariat and Central Military Commission were approved.

The plenum heard and discussed a work report by General Secretary of the Party Xi Jinping on behalf of the Political Bureau. A list of top government officials and leaders of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference was approved.

The plenum heard and discussed another work report by Xi. Decisions on major issues concerning deepening reform were approved, including reforms in economic, political, cultural, social, ecological and military areas.

The construction of a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics was set as the main goal of comprehensive efforts in strengthening the rule of law. It was the first time in 17 years that the topic had been at the top of a plenum agenda since the rule of law concept was first raised.

The plenum heard and discussed a work report by Xi. The 13thFive-Year Plan, a road map for economic and social development between 2016 and 2020, was approved. For the first time, five concepts for development — innovation, coordination, green development, openness and sharing— were put forward in the plan. The plenum decided to allow every married couple in the country to have a second child.

Themeeting discussedmajor issues relating to strengthening Party discipline. The norms of political life within the Party under the new situation and a revision toanintra-Party supervision regulation were issued.