Xi Jinping declares 'new era' for Chinese socialism

The head of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping has declared a “new era” for Chinese socialism marked by an effort to close the gap between “the people’s demands for a better life and unbalanced, insufficient development.” Xi’s call to action – and promises of results – were the focus of a major policy address as he opened a once-every-five-years party congress Wednesday in Beijing, Caixin reports. Some 2,338 delegates and select guests attended the opening session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Among the delegates were top party veterans including Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao and former party General Secretary Jiang Zemin. The delegates are expected to elect a new central committee, which in turn will choose the members of the Politburo and the Standing Committee of the Politburo. During his three-and-half-hour address, Xi said China’s brand of socialism has crossed a threshold into a new era. “This is a new, historic juncture in China’s development,” he said.