KATHMANDU — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday convened a crucial meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing to discuss ways to tighten discipline within the party, control corruption and increase the efficiency and loyalty of cadres.

The meeting, which began ahead of next year’s party congress and a possible change in leadership, is seen as an important opportunity to understand China’s future political direction.

About 300 members of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party are attending the meeting, called the Fifth Plenary Session. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, President Xi presented a draft decision with a strategic plan to strengthen the party’s discipline and self-governance at the meeting.

The detailed decisions of the meeting, which is being held behind closed doors amid tight security, are expected to be made public after the meeting ends on Thursday. The meeting is seen as a special significance as the 73-year-old Xi is expected to secure a historic fourth term and a change in leadership at next year’s party congress.

Xi has been running an anti-corruption campaign for 14 years. During this time, thousands of officials, including members of the Central Committee, have been prosecuted. However, he is dissatisfied with the officials who do not implement his directives and are not completely loyal to the party, according to the materials published in the state media.

At this year’s meeting, eight seats on the Central Committee are vacant, while another 15 members are at risk of losing their positions as they are under investigation. Xi’s campaign has also affected the military. Five of the seven members of the Central Military Commission have been removed from their posts. According to the Asia Society Policy Institute, of the 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022, only two were not prosecuted or out of contact.

According to analysts, Xi is seeking to increase the efficiency and loyalty of party officials through increased oversight and stricter rules. The meeting is expected to decide on the option of appointing new members to the Central Military Commission, postponing the appointment until next year’s congress or reorganizing the party’s control over the military.

The meeting began amid China’s sluggish domestic spending, the long-strained real estate sector and strained economic and political relations with the United States. The decision of the meeting is also seen as important in terms of the policy adopted by China’s leadership to deal with these challenges.