The congress will elect the Party's 17th Central Committee that will decide CPC's new leadership lineup for the coming few years, spokesman for the congress Li Dongsheng said at a press briefing on Sunday.

The congress, which will last for seven days till next Sunday, will also elect a new Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Li said.

There are 38 delegations, grouping more than 2,000 delegates from nationwide, to the congress, which is regarded as the most important political event in China in five years.

A preparatory meeting on Sunday appointed Zeng Qinghong, 68, assecretary-general of the congress.

Four senior Party leaders were selected by the 237-member Presidium as deputy secretaries-general, namely Liu Yunshan, Zhou Yongkang, He Guoqiang and Wang Gang.