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Nectar Gan

Leaders of China's ruling Communist Party have gathered in the seaside resort of Beidaihe for closed-door talks to set the agenda for major issues.
Liu Yunshan, Politburo Standing Committee member and Secretariat head, met leading academics and researchers on behalf of President Xi Jinping in the resort town in Hebei province on Wednesday, Xinhua reported.
The authorities never formally announce the start of the Beidaihe summit but yesterday's meeting was one signal that China watchers generally take as marking its start.
In all, 54 experts, including scientists, engineers and social scientists, were invited to Beidaihe this year, bringing the total since 2001 to 800, the report said.
The informal summit is attended by present and retired leaders each summer and is used to work out major policy decisions for the coming year.
The South China Morning Post reported last week that this year's summit would be held earlier due to urgent issues, such as the economic slowdown and the stock market turmoil.
Xi's scheduled visit to the United States in September was also a reason for the change, sources said.
Apart from the slowdown and share rout, the leaders are also expected to discuss state-owned enterprise reform, the draft of the next five-year plan, relations with the United States and Japan, the corruption crackdown and personnel arrangements in preparation for the semi-leadership transition at the 19th party congress in 2017.
In previous years, the conclaves were usually held around August 10, between the mid-year meeting of the Politburo and the party's Central Committee's plenum in the autumn.
The tradition of summer meetings at Beidaihe dates back to 1953, when the top state leaders decided to escape the summer heat of Beijing.
 


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Beidaihe meeting

Summit season begins in Beidaihe for China's Communist Party leaders

Liu Yunshan, China's Politburo Standing Committee member and Secretariat head, meets scientists and experts who are enjoying a state-sponsored summer vacation at popular seaside resort Beidaihe in Hebei province. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese leaders can ride the summer tide at Beidaihe summit

Bottom row, from left: President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and Politburo Standing Committee members Liu Yunshan and Zhang Gaoli will meet in Beidaihe. Photo: Reuters

It's decision time by the sea for China's Communist Party

The seaside resort of Beidaihe is the scene of a key annual party gathering. Photo: Josephine Ma

China's Communist Party brings forward Beidaihe closed-door policy summit

President Jiang Zemin records an interview in Beidaihe with CBS anchor Mike Wallace in 2000. Photo: Xinhua

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New | Summit season begins in Beidaihe for China's Communist Party leaders