China's Xi Jinping opens a secretive four-day Communist Party plenum in Beijing expected to 'tighten discipline' within the ranks

Eight seats on the Central Committee stand vacant and a further 15 members face investigation, leaving significant gaps in the roughly 300-strong elite convened in Beijing. Xi put forward a draft plan for 'full and rigorous Party self-governance'. His 14-year anti-corruption drive has seen thousands of officials purged. The closed-door fifth plenum continues under heavy security until Thursday.

At next year's congress, Xi, 73, looks all but certain to claim a historic fourth term.

He has railed against 'two-faced' officials who appear to comply but 'inwardly resist'.

Analysts expect more supervision and rules to squeeze loyalty and efficiency from cadres.