China's leaders hold policy meet

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China's leaders have started one of the most important policy-setting meetings of the year.

The Communist Party Central Committee is meeting behind closed doors for its main annual session.

President Hu Jintao is expected to use the meeting to bolster his own position and endorse the need for more balanced and controlled economic growth.

Several top officials in Shanghai linked to the former president have been sacked on corruption charges.

Policy making is still a highly secretive process in China.

Little will be known about the debates of the next few days until a final communiqué is issued.

Even then, most of the real information will be between the lines.

'Powerful signal'

But this year, the weeks before the meeting were dominated by dramatic political events - the anti-corruption drive that led to the disgracing of high-profile leaders in Shanghai, including politburo member Chen Liang-yu.

It is likely formal action against Chen will be decided by the committee in the coming days.

But the move was a powerful signal too of the Beijing leadership's thinking.

Many analysts saw the anti-corruption drive as part of a bigger political battle for control, an attempt by Beijing to re-impose its authority on the regions.

Shanghai has been seen as challenging demands from Beijing to rein in growth and lending.

Some in Shanghai even seemed to question whether policy can be applied universally across China when the provinces are so different economically.

Factions and loyalties within the party may also have played a part.

Some emphasise the fact that many of those denounced were close to former President Jiang Zemin.

So the meeting's formal censure of the Shanghai leaders could be an opportunity for Mr Hu to re-assert his authority.

He is likely too to stress more firmly than ever the need for "harmonious development" - including the need for the state to ease the hardships faced by the millions in China who feel marginalised and excluded.

So although the debate itself will be secret, the main topics of conversation seem clear: a battle to re-assert central control and do more to address social discontent.