Xinhua reported that according to the news center of the conference, the report of the

conference was printed and distributed to all delegates. General Secretary Xi Jinping made an

oral report at the opening meeting, focusing on the main points of the report of the 20th National

Congress of the Communist Party of China. On the opening day of the 20th Party Congress on

October 16 morning, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping presented the Work Report to the 20th

Party Congress over 1 hour 43 minutes. The new report is 72 pages versus the 68 pages for the

19th Congress. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang later announced that the 20th National Congress

of the Communist Party of China should be attended by 2,296 delegates, 83 specially invited

delegates, totalling 2,379 people, but 39 people had asked for leave due to work or illness.

There are 2,340 actual delegates and specially-invited delegates.

ii) The members of the Standing Committee of the Presidium of the Congress seated in the

front row of the rostrum include Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang

Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Chen, Liu He, Xu Qiliang, Sun Chunlan,

Li Xi, Li Qiang, Li Hongzhong, Yang Jiechi, Yang Xiaodu, Zhang Youxia, Chen Xi, Chen

Quanguo, Chen Min'er, Hu Chunhua, Guo Shengkun, Huang Kunming, Cai Qi, Hu Jintao, Li

Ruihuan, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Song Ping, Li Lanqing,

Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, He Guoqiang, Liu Yunshan, Zhang Gaoli,

You Quan and Zhang Qingli.The conference was chaired by Li Keqiang.

iii) In the portion of the Report that Xi Jinping read on October 16, he made 90 references to

security. There were more references to "security" or "safety" (depending on context), struggle,

and the people while making fewer references to the economy and reform.

iv) Party Congress spokesman and the Deputy Minister of the CCP CC Propaganda Department

Sun Yeli, confirmed that the new leadership line-up of China’s ruling Communist Party will

be unveiled on October 23, a day after the CCPs national congress wraps up on October 22. He

also commented that China is capable of "greater miracles" going forward. China has entered

a new normal of slower growth. China is more focused on fixing long-term issues than growth.

The South China Morning Post (October 16) said there will be sweeping changes in senior

positions. Nearly half the seats on the Central Committee are going to change hands. Some of

the members of the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee – the highest decisionmaking body – are also expected to be replaced. It will mark a new era under Xi’s leadership

as he will have a free hand to build a supporting cast around him for the next five years. The

reshuffle will only be completed next March at the annual parliamentary sessions after changes

in key government posts are confirmed – such as who will take over from Li Keqiang as the

new Premier. About 2,500 Chinese and foreign journalists covered the grand opening

ceremony.

(Comment: It appears that Xi Jinping will succeed in packing the PBSC and probably the PB

with his loyalists.

In a commentary on CCTV after Xi's political report, it was mentioned that the version read by

Xi Jinping was not the full-text version of the report. On October 16, Xi got a long standing

ovation when he entered while in 2017 all sat and clapped. In 2017, CCTV showed each PBSC

member individually, but this time in groups of 3 in 2 rows. Xi stood alone on the stage this

year.)