Timeline of the draft

April

Following the election of the new leadership, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decides that the Third Plenary Session will deal with comprehensive reform and tackle a number of important decisions. A drafting group of around 60 members headed by President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, is established by the Political Bureau. It's the first time since 2000 that the Party's top leader has led the drafting of a document to be tabled at a plenary session.

April 20

The CPC Central Committee informs Party organs, central government organs and the governments of all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions and other interested parties, that their opinions will be solicited. Less than a month later, 118 items and proposals were received.

April 24

The first meeting of the drafting group takes place. Xi asks the members to make a strategic plan for deepening reforms across the board, based on a deep understanding of China's new circumstances, reality, missions and public expectations.

April to July

During a number of meetings, Xi instructs the drafting group to produce a landmark document that will meet public expectations and can be implemented in the real world. Other members of the Standing Committee also contribute a number of important proposals.

July 25

The first draft decision is submitted to the seven members of the Standing Committee. The draft is later amended a number of times.

Sept 4

The draft is distributed to more than 100 departments at the central and local levels, including former Party and state leaders, to solicit their opinions. The drafting group receives 2,564 proposals, of which more than 40 percent are included in the final document.

Sept 17

Xi hosts a meeting with representatives of non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and those without party affiliation to hear their suggestions.

Oct 29

Having reviewed the draft, the Political Bureau decides to submit it to the Third Plenary Session.

Nov 9

The Third Plenary Session opens. The plan is presented to 204 members of the CPC Central Committee and 169 alternate members for in-depth discussion during the following four days.

Nov 11

The final meeting of the Standing Committee takes place, giving members a last chance to hear the proposals and decide on a new draft presented for discussion on the morning of Nov 12.

Nov 12

The final version of the document is distributed to the participants and put to a vote.

Nov 15

The landmark document, containing more than 300 reform measures, is released to the public.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

(China Daily Africa Weekly11/22/2013 page5)