All candidates to enter the central committee and central discipline commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have been selected, waiting for a formal vote on Sunday at the concluding session of the 17th CPC National Congress, Xinhua has learnt.

Hu Jintao presides over the third meeting of the presidium of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 20, 2007. The third meeting of the presidium of the 17th CPC National Congress was held in Beijing on Oct. 20. 

More than 2,200 Party delegates selected the candidates for members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Friday and Saturday through a secret multi-candidate vote.

The list and numbers of the chosen candidates are not known, but they will have a high chance to become members and alternate members of the central committee, and members of the central discipline commission, as was the case at previous Party congresses.

The primary elections were conducted on a differential basis. Analysts say the ratio of losers may be higher than that in the 16th Party congress five years ago.

At the 16th Party congress in 2002, ten nominees lost in the primary vote for candidates of central committee members, marking a 5.1 percent. Another seven people, or 5.8 percent of the nominees, lost in the vote for candidates of members of the central discipline commission.

The proportion of the dropouts in the alternate members primary election was 5.7 percent in 2002, which translates into nine persons.

The Party Constitution rules that "The highest leading body of the Party is the National Congress and the Central Committee elected by it." It also stipulates: "The Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party are elected by the Central Committee in plenary session."

In this sense, the top leadership lineup will be formed at the first plenary session of the newly-elected CPC Central Committee. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau are expected to meet the press on Monday following the plenum.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)