Election starts for 19th CPC congress

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China released guidelines on Wednesday for the election of delegates to the Party's 19th National Congress, marking the beginning of the election process.

A total of 2,300 delegates will be elected by 40 electoral units across the country. The election will be completed by June, according to a CPC Central Committee statement.

Delegates to the 19th National Congress should be excellent Party members, the statement said, adding that candidates' beliefs, political integrity and moral qualities were the most important qualities.

Moreover, during the election process, intra-Party democracy and discipline should be priorities, the statement said.

The quota of delegates from the front line of workers, such as those from the production sector, will be increased and model workers, farmers and professionals should be recommended for election, according to the statement, which underscored that cadres should come from all walks of life. Female delegates and ethnic minorities should also be included.

The CPC now has more than 88 million members, up from 80 million in 2011.

The 18th Central Committee of the CPC decided at its sixth plenary session in October that the Party's 19th National Congress would be held in Beijing in the second half of 2017. The congress typically convenes once every five years.