// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
China's big political meeting could see Xi 'tighten discipline' in Party
Plenums are essentially closed door meetings of the Party's central committee that happen at least once a year
A major political gathering is underway in the Chinese capital, with a closed-door meeting of senior figures that could shape the look of the ruling Communist Party in the years to come.
The Fifth Plenum brings together around 300 members of the Central Committee and state media said it would pave the way for a "tightening of discipline" within the Party's ranks.
The four-day session that started on Monday will give Xi Jinping an opportunity to further consolidate his grip on power following recent purges.
The normally annual Plenums are highly secretive, but a summary of decisions and a more detailed document will be made public after.
They are essentially closed door meetings of the Party's central committee that happen at least once a year.
There are usually seven plenums during each five-year Central Committee term and they are watched from afar because they are meant to signal the leadership's priorities.
The timing for this year's gathering is important because it is a year away from the next Party Congress, where a new set of priorities is set up and a new central committee appointed.
Officially, the Central Committee selects the Party's top leadership but the real processes leading to the selection are kept secret within the Party elite.
The next Party Congress will almost certainly reappoint Xi as the country's leader, following the abolition of term limits.