1921: The First CPC National Congress is held in Shanghai.

The Communist Party of China is born.

1922: The Second CPC National Congress is held in Shanghai.

Adopts the CPC Constitution, and sets the revolutionary principle of "anti-imperialism and anti - feudalism".

1923: The Third CPC National Congress is held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Stipulates probationary periods for candidate Party members as three months for laborers and six months for non - laborers. Also stipulates their duties and rights.

1925: The Fourth CPC National Congress in Shanghai.

Adopts General Secretary as the title for the top leader.

1927: The Fifth CPC National Congress is held in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Establishes the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

1928: The Sixth CPC National Congress is held in Moscow.

Adopts "democratic centralism" as the Party's organizing principle.

1945: The Seventh CPC National Congress is held in Yan'an, Shaanxi province.

Establishes Mao Zedong Thought as the Party's guiding ideology.

1956: The Eighth CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Stipulates the term of oice for deputies to the People's National Congress as five years.

1969: The Ninth CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

The wrong decision is made as the congress agrees to continue the "cultural revolution" ( 1966 - 76).

1973: The 10th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Wrongly repeats airmation of the" cultural revolution".

1977: The 11th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Announces the end of the " cultural revolution". Reinstates the goal of building China into a modernized country by the end of the century. Decides to set up the discipline inspection commissions at all Party committees at county level and above.

1982: The 12th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Raises the concept of "building socialism with Chinese characteristics". Revises the CPC Constitution and stipulates that the Party's major decisions should be made through democratic discussions. Includes the oath for joining the Party in the CPC Constitution.

1987: The 13th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Decides to improve the electoral system and implement competitive elections.

1992: The 14th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Abolishes the CPC Central Advisory Committee.

1997: The 15th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Adds Deng Xiaoping Theory to the Party's guiding ideology.

2002: The 16th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing

Adds the Three Represents - the important ideas concerning the development, culture and interests of the Chinese people put forth by former leader Jiang Zemin - to the Party's guiding theory.

2007: The 17th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing.

Includes the Scientific Outlook on Development - the theory put forward by then CPC general secretary Hu Jintao and his colleagues - to the CPC Constitution.

2012: The 18th CPC National Congress is held in Beijing. Adopts Marxist - Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development as the Party's action guideline. Includes ecological civilization construction in the CPC Constitution.