The Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene its fifth plenum in Beijing Oct. 26-29 to review internal governance before the next national leadership meeting, expected in 2027.
At a Sept. 21 Politburo meeting chaired by CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping, the leadership agreed to send members a draft decision on strengthening Party self-governance. Its announced purpose is to take stock of earlier governance, map the pressures facing Party building and frame coming work. The announcement does not publish the full document or describe particular rule changes.
The committee had already taken up long-range planning last year. At the fourth plenum in October 2025, it adopted recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026-30. Chong Ja Ian of the National University of Singapore, where he is an associate professor, told CNA that past fifth plenums have often helped shape priorities for the coming five-year cycle. The current draft’s focus puts governance alongside planning work considered at the prior session.
Xi’s January remarks set out the Party’s stated rationale for internal oversight. In a Jan. 12 speech, he said the “fight against corruption remains grave and complex.” He also urged firmer follow-through on decisions from central authorities and linked Party self-governance to the 15th plan’s goals.
The CPC Constitution provides for a National Congress every five years. The 20th Congress ended on Oct. 22, 2022, making 2027 the expected year for its successor under the regular cycle; no date has been announced. Reuters quoted Ruby Osman, a senior policy adviser on China with the Tony Blair Institute, saying the approaching Congress raises the stakes around Party discipline. Reuters also reported critics’ concern that the removal of top military officers could unsettle the armed forces and erode combat readiness.
The Politburo said an earlier version of the draft went to Party members and people outside the Party for comment and received broad support from those consulted. It did not identify them or detail the proposals. The fifth plenum is scheduled to end Oct. 29.
