5th Plenum opens in Beijing

President Hu Jintao today heads the fifth plenum of the 16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist party in Beijing, as China puts the finishing touches to preparations for its second manned space flight on October 13, which is thought to be a timely statement of China's global stature. During the plenum, a forum in which top party members outline the next five-year plan for the country, the leaders are expected to focus on the issues of China's growing poverty gap, although regional disparity, the economy, healthcare provision, the environment and increased urbanization will also be addressed.