The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday released guidelines 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 next year, according to a statement from the CPC Central Committee.
The statement said there should be 15 percent more candidates than the number of available posts.
Delegates to the 19th National Congress of the CPC should be excellent Party members, the statement said, adding that candidates' beliefs, political integrity and moral qualities were the most important qualities of candidates.
Moreover, during the election process intra-Party democracy and discipline should be priorities, according to the statement, adding that the delegate structure should be improved and the election procedure standardized.
The quota of delegates from the front line of workers, such as those employed in 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 those identifying as ethnic minorities should also account for a certain proportion of the total, the statement said.
The CPC now has more than 88 million members across the country, up from 80 million five years ago.
The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Political Bureau drafted the general rules and tasks of the election guidelines.
The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee made detailed arrangement for the election.
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.
