Beijing, Nov 6 (IANS): The world's most populous and one of the most economically powerful nations, which is also one of the world's most secretive countries, will see the beginning of a crucial leadership transition during the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) here Thursday.

The new leader of the world's second largest economy that is increasingly influencing the global discourse and was one of the few countries that figured repeatedly in the bitterly fought US election campaign will be, in all likelihood, Vice President Xi Jinping, who will succeed President Hu Jintao as general secretary of the all-powerful Communist Party after being elected to the new Central Committee which will in turn "elect" the new Politburo.

Li Keqiang is likley to be the premier in the next leadership, succeeding Wen Jiabao, according to reports, though there has been no official communication so far. It is also not clear if Xi will also head the all-powerful Central Military Commission, replacing Hu as China's commander-in-chief. Xi will be elected as the country's next president in March next year by the National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp parliament. He is likely to remain as such for the next ten years before the next big leadership change.

The Communist Party is the sole party in power in China and has nearly 70 million members in more than three million grassroots organisations.The CPC has established formal and informal organizations within the Chinese government and various levels and walks of life in the country, according to people.com.cn.

Detailing the process, the website informed that the election of delegates to party congresses at all levels and of committees is by secret ballot. It has been made clear that no organisation or individual shall use any method to force voters to elect or not to elect a certain person.

The central leading organ of the party is the National Party Congress and the Central Committee it elects. The Central Committee is accountable to and reports its work to the National Congress.

The National Party Congress, held once every five years, is convened by the Central Committee. If the Central Committee deems it necessary, or over one-third of the provincial-level organizations express a demand, the congress may be held ahead of schedule; and if there is no special situation, its convening shall not be postponed.
The leading organs of the Central Committee are the Political Bureau, its Standing Committee and general secretary of the Central Committee.

The Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and the general secretary of the Central Committee are elected by the
plenary session of the Central Committee.

The general secretary of the Central Committee must be elected from among members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee.

When the plenum of the Central Committee is not in session, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee.

Members of the Central Military Commission of the Party are decided on by the Central Committee.