China sets 2,360 delegates for 2027 Communist Party congress
The Chinese Communist Party will hold its 21st National Congress in Beijing in the second half of 2027. Elections for 2,360 delegates, with a competitive margin of at least 15 per cent, will run until the end of June 2027, state media reported.
The 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party will convene in Beijing in the second half of 2027, state news agency Xinhua reported on 7 November. The central committee has issued a notice on elections for the congress, which will begin immediately and conclude by the end of June 2027.
Delegates will be chosen through competitive elections, with a margin of more than 15 per cent between candidates and seats. A total of 2,360 delegates will be selected from 38 electoral units across the country, according to the notice.
The notice calls for the election work to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi's party-building thought. It stresses adherence to the party constitution, strengthening the party's overall leadership—especially the central committee's unified authority—and prioritising political standards. The process must maintain strict criteria, rigorous procedures and serious discipline to ensure delegates are of high quality, with a reasonable structure, broad distribution and support from party members.
Delegates must be outstanding party members. The notice requires strict political vetting, with a one-vote veto for those deemed politically unqualified. Candidates must also pass integrity and conduct checks to prevent what it calls “tainted nominations” and “tainted elections”.
The notice calls for a balanced delegate structure, ensuring representation from frontline production and work. It emphasises nominating model workers from among workers, farmers and technical professionals. Female and ethnic-minority party members must account for a certain proportion. Delegates should cover various sectors including the economy, science and technology, national defence, legal affairs, education, propaganda, culture, health, sports, social management and new employment groups.