AKIPRESS.COM - China has entered a new era where it should take center stage in the world, President Xi Jinping said at the Communist Party congress.

The country's rapid progress under "socialism with Chinese characteristics" shows there is "a new choice for other countries", he said.

The closed-door summit determines who rules China and the country's direction for the next term.

Mr Xi has been consolidating power and is expected to remain as party chief.

The congress, which takes place once every five years, will finish on Tuesday. More than 2,000 delegates are attending the event, which is taking place under tight security, BBC reported.

Shortly after the congress ends, the party is expected to unveil the new members of China's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, who will steer the country.

China’s economy grew at 6.8 per cent in the third quarter year-on-year, slightly below the previous period but still above the government’s full-year target, boosting President Xi Jinping’s effort to consolidate power at a five-yearly Communist party leadership transition, FT reported.

With year-on-year growth of 6.9 per cent through the first three quarters of 2017, China is all-but certain to exceed its full-year target of “around 6.5 per cent”. The economy is also poised for its first year-on-year acceleration in growth since 2010, following a 6.7 per cent expansion last year.