13 November 2012 Last updated at 21:40 ET
Security has been tight in Beijing for the week of the congress
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China's Communist Party is concluding a week-long congress that will usher in the country's new leaders.
More than 2,200 delegates are choosing a new Central Committee in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
That committee will then endorse China's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.
The new line-up, to be unveiled on Thursday, will be keenly analysed for signs of China's future economic and political direction.
Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang are expected to become party leader and deputy respectively. Mr Xi is also expected to take over from Hu Jintao as China's president in March 2013.
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Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, party organisation chief Li Yuanchao and Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang are thought to be the front-runners.
But the exact composition of the Standing Committee - which could be reduced from nine to seven members - will not be clear until it is formally announced.
New facesChina's leadership change happens every 10 years. The party congress opened on 8 November with a work report from Mr Hu.
Since then, the decision-making has been taking place behind closed doors - with many of the key selections in reality decided in advance.
Continue reading the main story[h=2]China's leadership change[/h]
On Tuesday 8% of candidates for the 350-odd member Central Committee were cut in a preliminary vote, state media said. Delegates are now choosing the new committee.
The central committee is the highest working body in the party - most members are leading figures of the party, government and army.
It meets every year to make decisions on major policies and is also responsible for appointing the most powerful people in China.
But, says the BBC's Raymond Li, sometimes decisions are made by the politburo and then sent to the committee for final approval, leading some to call it a rubber-stamp body.
Many current central committee members are past the retirement age, so it is widely expected that at least half of the members of the next committee will be new faces, our correspondent adds.
The party congress delegates are also selecting the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party's internal anti-corruption arm.
Analysts say there has been division at the very top of the leadership in the lead-up to the congress, with two rival factions jostling for position and influence.
Recent months have also been dominated by the scandal involving former Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai. His wife has been jailed for murdering a British businessman and he looks set to face trial on a raft of corruption-related charges.
Across China, meanwhile, recent cases of official corruption have stoked public anger and there have been a series of high-profile mass protests focusing on land grabs and environmental issues.
Mr Hu, in his speech, said the party had to better tackle corruption issues or risk fatal damage.
Continue reading the main story
China's Communist Party is concluding a week-long congress that will usher in the country's new leaders.
More than 2,200 delegates are choosing a new Central Committee in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
That committee will then endorse China's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.
The new line-up, to be unveiled on Thursday, will be keenly analysed for signs of China's future economic and political direction.
Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang are expected to become party leader and deputy respectively. Mr Xi is also expected to take over from Hu Jintao as China's president in March 2013.
Continue reading the main story
- Wednesday: Party congress elects 350-odd members of 18th central committee
- China's richest man, Liang Wengen, may be first private businessman on body
- Thursday: Central committee meets and elects new Politburo and Politburo Standing Committee
- Xi Jinping set to be named as Party General Secretary
- Politburo may be reduced from nine to seven
- Reformists hopes pinned on Guangdong Party boss Wang Yang and Liu Yuanchao
- Party will also announce whether Hu Jintao will keep charge of army, or hand power to Xi Jinping
Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, propaganda chief Liu Yunshan, party organisation chief Li Yuanchao and Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang are thought to be the front-runners.
But the exact composition of the Standing Committee - which could be reduced from nine to seven members - will not be clear until it is formally announced.
New facesChina's leadership change happens every 10 years. The party congress opened on 8 November with a work report from Mr Hu.
Since then, the decision-making has been taking place behind closed doors - with many of the key selections in reality decided in advance.
Continue reading the main story[h=2]China's leadership change[/h]
- Special Communist Party meeting every 10 years
- This time, leaders over age of 68 will be retired
- New group of seven or nine top leaders unveiled
- Names already decided in secret, none elected
- Factions more important than policies, exact selection process unclear
On Tuesday 8% of candidates for the 350-odd member Central Committee were cut in a preliminary vote, state media said. Delegates are now choosing the new committee.
The central committee is the highest working body in the party - most members are leading figures of the party, government and army.
It meets every year to make decisions on major policies and is also responsible for appointing the most powerful people in China.
But, says the BBC's Raymond Li, sometimes decisions are made by the politburo and then sent to the committee for final approval, leading some to call it a rubber-stamp body.
Many current central committee members are past the retirement age, so it is widely expected that at least half of the members of the next committee will be new faces, our correspondent adds.
The party congress delegates are also selecting the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party's internal anti-corruption arm.
Analysts say there has been division at the very top of the leadership in the lead-up to the congress, with two rival factions jostling for position and influence.
Recent months have also been dominated by the scandal involving former Chongqing party leader Bo Xilai. His wife has been jailed for murdering a British businessman and he looks set to face trial on a raft of corruption-related charges.
Across China, meanwhile, recent cases of official corruption have stoked public anger and there have been a series of high-profile mass protests focusing on land grabs and environmental issues.
Mr Hu, in his speech, said the party had to better tackle corruption issues or risk fatal damage.