China's 20th Communist Party Congress kicked off on Sunday, with Xi Jinpingpoised to clinch his third five-year stint in charge - a mandate that would secure his stature as the country's most powerful ruler since founding leader Mao Zedong.

* Xi began a speech opening the week-long session touting the ruling party's safeguarding of national security, maintaining social stability, protecting people's lives and taking control of the situation in Hong Kong, which was rocked by anti-government protests in 2019.

* China will unwaveringly support the private economy and let the market play decisive role in resource allocation, Xi said.

* China will make its Covid-19 prevention measures more scientific, accurate and effective, a party spokesman said on Saturday, while reiterating Beijing's stance that its pandemic approach is the right one.

* Little is known about who will be promoted into which key roles on the Politburo and its seven-member Standing Committee. Here are some of the leading contenders and some scenarios to look out for.

* Leaders face a difficult time. The world's second-largest economy is slowing and facing a potentially painful rebalancing of its investment- and property-led model.

* Real estate developers in particular are delaying debt restructuring moves until after the congress, hoping the gathering offers clues on how Beijing plans to stabilise the embattled sector.

* There are also questions over whether and how Beijing exits it strict zero-Covid policy, as well as rising tensions over Taiwan and high-profile protests over several issues this year. Markets are closely watching how Beijing manages these challenges.

* Meanwhile, the capital is stepping up security and Covid curbs for the once-every-five-year event that brings together 2,300 party members at the vast Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square. Authorities removed rare banners of political protest from an overpass in Beijing, images circulated on social media on Thursday showed.

Reuters