PROCEDURES, PRINCIPLES

Starting from early 2022, Xi began seeking advice from other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau on how to deliberate and determine candidates for a new central leadership.

On March 24 this year, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau held a meeting, presided over by Xi, and adopted a plan on the recommendation of candidates for the central leadership.

Among the principles of recommendation, it was stressed that the core position of the CPC leadership, and the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership should be resolutely upheld. Candidates should be dedicated, impartial and upright.

The principles also placed emphasis on merit regardless of background, and on having both integrity and ability, with greater weight given to the former.

The CPC Central Committee held that candidates should have firm political faith and be loyal to the CPC, and keep a "high degree of conformity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi at the core."

In the summer of 2022, a provincial leader was summoned to Beijing for a talk in the Zhongnanhai leadership compound.

After studying the name lists of then incumbent leadership and ministerial/provincial leaders, this official had a one-on-one session with a senior leader about recommendations for candidates for the new leadership.