Three facts to help you understand CPC top leadership

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The seven newly-elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau made their public debut on Wednesday, after the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its first plenary session of the 19th Central Committee in Beijing.

Xi Jinping was re-elected General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and afterwards presented the Party’s roadmap for the coming five years.

He said China will continue with further reform and opening up in a bid to deliver prosperity to every Chinese person. He also promised a greater contribution to peace and development for all human beings.

In front of the press, Xi introduced the other six members of the newly-elected Standing Committee: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

Xinhua Photo‍

Li Keqiang already served on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee. The others are new to the Standing Committee but were previously members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi said.

Here are some facts to help you understand the structure of the CPC's leadership.

Q: What's the difference between the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee?

A: The Political Bureau is a group of 25 people. Its Standing Committee is currently made up of seven members. Members of both bodies are elected by the CPC's top decision-making body, the CPC Central Committee.

The Political Bureau and its Standing Committee exercise power on behalf of the Central Committee when it is not in session. The 204-member Central Committee meets at least once a year.

While the Political Bureau meets once every month, the seven-member Standing Committee meets once every week and takes decisions on a day-to-day basis.

Q: What role does the General Secretary play?

A: While each member of the Central Committee has one vote, the General Secretary has a bigger say – setting the Party's agenda and convening meetings.

Last year, Xi Jinping was named the CPC's "core" leader. After the sixth plenary session of the CPC Central Committee in October, the Party called on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core."

Q: Why are there fewer women at the top?

A: The 19th CPC National Congress selected 204 members for the CPC Central Committee. Only 10 of them are women. Among the 25 members of the Political Bureau, only one is woman.

Compared to the 18th CPC Central Committee, which had about 5.8 percent of female members, the 19th Central Committee has 4.9 percent. The female-member ratio in the Political Bureau has gone from 8 percent to 4 percent.

In the 17th CPC Central Committee, some 6.4 percent of the members were women, and 4 percent of the Political Bureau were women.

So far, no woman has ever been promoted to the Standing Committee.