The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opens in Beijing at 9am today to map out China's all-round development for the coming five years. The congress, regarded as the most important political event in China in five years, gathers more than 2,000 delegates from 38 delegations nationwide. - Xinhua

The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opens in Beijing at 9am today to map out China's all-round development for the coming five years.

The congress, which is regarded as the most important political event in China in five years, gathers more than 2,000 delegates from 38 delegations nationwide.

High on its agenda is a draft amendment to the Party Constitution to reflect the scientific outlook on development and new achievements in the Party's theoretical innovation and progress in practice. The congress will elect the Party's 17th Central Committee that will decide the CPC's new leadership lineup for the coming few years, spokesman for the congress Li Dongsheng said at a press briefing yesterday.

The congress, which will last for seven days till October 21, will also elect a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Li said.

Representing more than 70 million CPC members, the delegates are strong in terms of vanguard nature and broadly representative, he said.

The election of delegates to the congress went smoothly and more than 99 percent of grassroots Party organizations and more than 98 percent of individual Party members participated in the election.

The opening ceremony is being covered live by China's televisions, radios and Websites. China's leading newspaper, the People's Daily, hailed the opening of the landmark party congress in an editorial today.

The gathering opens a new chapter in the history of the CPC, marks a new stage in the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics and presents a new outlook on the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, reads the editorial, entitled "Unswervingly follow the great course of socialism with Chinese characteristics". It says the congress, held at a crucial stage of China's reform and development, is of vital importance.