It is a piece of political theatre, though key proceedings are shrouded in secrecy. President xi jinping is expected to consolidate his power for a second term in office. In his opening address, president xi will set out his future priorities. We are looking at live pictures from the congress in Tiananmen Square and just outside as our correspondent. It is getting started. Yes, it is. Prepare yourself for almost a week of. It is fair to describe it as the best of authoritarian theatre. Just over 2000 of the most Senior Leaders within the communist party of china will gather here in the great hall of the people. You can see partly what is going on inside. I am just outside, and they will hear this morning within the next hour their leader, president xijinping, who more important for them, and this is his most important position in this country, is general secretary of the communist party. He will address them as a man who is five years into his reign of power. For most leaders in this country that is halfway through. There is no question that he will be anointed, he will be confirmed for another five years. There is some speculation as to whether he wishes to go beyond that, but i think discussion about that may be used for another day. They will hear from may be used for another day. They will hearfrom xijinping and assessment of whether his party, and it is the party that remains paramount here in china, also underneath that, his government, have lived up to their pledges, their promises over the last five yea rs. Their promises over the last five years. And many of those are not priorities that he himself was able to set out. It was the previous leader who had great influence on that when he departed at the end of 2012. So there will be a look back to what has gone on for the past five years, but also, and this is far more important for xi jinping, pointers to what is to come in the five years ahead. The priorities for him both domestically and for chinas position in the world. Expect to hear much about the ongoing anti graft Anti Corruption campaign which has been crucialfor xijinping in trying to rejuvenate the communist party, but also consolidate his power. Expect to hear as well about the environment and tackling pollution in this country, which after decades of pretty growth is a very, very serious problem for millions of Chinese People gritty growth. The economy remains absolutely crucial for this country in terms of its future, but also in terms of the legitimacy of the leadership of the communist party. The trend of growth is slowing. Growth last year at 6. 7 was the slowest we have had in a generation, but that growth is sta ble generation, but that growth is stable and that is absolutely crucial for stable and that is absolutely crucialfor xi stable and that is absolutely crucial for xi jinping. Stable and that is absolutely crucialfor xijinping. Robin, during the coming week, is there any room for dissent or debate . Not in public. Certainly not. The security just surrounding this event is intense. There is a long list that i could go through here about restrictions in terms ofjust access to this area. They range from having an open flame in restaurants around beijing to be able to carry a blade. Security checks on transport hubs, and that spreads, as well, the widespread censorship and oppression, notjust in the media, but also targeting those who are deemed troublemakers. Human rights lawyers, edition is, those who have grievances, in the run up to this event. Petitioners. There is of course been fighting and factionalism. Chinese politics is no different to anywhere else, and that goes on here, but it goes on behind the scenes and it will manifest itself when we see who rises to the top of the party in the next few days. That will be crucial, a crucial reflection on whether xi jinping can consolidate his power, get his men in the positions of power. 0k, robin. Thank you very much. And we think they are just observing a minutes silenced at the beginning of this congress. We can see delegates have just taken a seat. President xijinping is now in attendance, and in the coming hour, possibly the coming minutes, we would hope to hearfrom possibly the coming minutes, we would hope to hear from them. Possibly the coming minutes, we would hope to hearfrom them. As robin set out there, we expect in pa rt robin set out there, we expect in part a review of the last five yea rs, part a review of the last five years, how that has gone, how policies have been enacted, the state of the party and the state of the country. And perhaps also a look ahead to the coming five years, and president xi s vision for the party and for the country. We will come back to the congress when president xi takes the stage and have a listen. But for now we will leave beijing and take a look at the rest of the days news. In other news us backed kurdish and arab forces in syria say they have taken control of the city of raqqa, which so called Islamic State once claimed as the capital of its caliphate. It follows months of intense fighting which killed more than 3,000 people, a third of them civilians. Advances against Islamic State have now been made in both syria and iraq. Our middle east correspondent Quentin Sommerville has the latest. Before we go to quentin, lets go back to beijing. I think president xijinping is making his way up. To applause from some of the more than 2200 delegates from across the country. They are welcoming him up there. For this, one country. They are welcoming him up there. Forthis, one of country. They are welcoming him up there. For this, one of the most important speeches probably of his career, certainly of this congress, the 19th National Congress for chinas communist party. Comrades, i now make this report on behalf of the 18th National Peoples congress to you, the Chinese Communist party, now hosting this 19th National Peoples congress, is when we are in a critical time, when we are building the society for the well being. This is very Important Congress at this very critical time. The theme of this congress is we need to remember our mission to highley raised the socialist flag and to build a well being society. To have a great achievement in this modern time, and to realise our chinese dream, we will strive for other. For ever. The nation and the task for the Chinese Communist party is to help to improve the life of the people, and also to advance the growth of our society. This has encouraged the Chinese Communist party to strive forward. Party members should always share our fate with the people, always keep the better life for the people in mind. We need to take the stance that we will always strive forward. To advance toward the goal of regionalisation of the great china. At the moment, the domestic and International Situations are changing every day. We are still at a critical moment in this strategic development. The future is very bright. The challenge is also grave. All the Party Members must look forward and be prepared for everything. Be ready to renovate, and to do new things, to renovate and to do new things, to renovate and to do new things, and to lead the whole nation to become a fully well of society, and to build china with chinese characteristics. In the last five years, what we have done. We can see that since the 18th National Peoples congress, we can see that it has been a very unusual five years facing the very wea k world unusual five years facing the very weak world economy, the global issues keep emerging. Facing the challenges for our economic growth, facing the changes, we a firm to wa nt to facing the changes, we a firm to want to have steady growth in these difficult times, and we have made great achievement. These are historical achievement since the history of the new china. Since the 18th National Peoples congress, we have seven sessions, and we try to focus on the government function change, and to build a good legal system, and set the 13 five year plan, and to make decisions for the party 13th. Over the last five yea rs, party 13th. Over the last five years , we party 13th. Over the last five yea rs, we have party 13th. Over the last five years, we have set great plans, and have set forward great strategies. We have successfully completed our 12th five year plan, and we have started the 13th plan, and have made good achievement for the party. We unwaveringly forge forward with the new ways, and new formats, and to improve our quality is and efficiencies. Our economy keeps going at a high speed going, and ranking top end the countries in the world. And we have now become the second biggest economic power in the world, and we have contributed more than 30 to the world economy. Our economic structure is being optimised. Our high speed rail, highway, ports, airports, infrastructures, are rapidly growing and improving. Organised agriculture is also improving steadily. We have our total output of grain of 2. 2 trillion. 80 million rural population has become urban population. And our regional gap is being narrowed, and our one belt, one road is forging ahead. We can see the achievement for our economic reform. Innovation is on its way. We have also made lots of achievement. We can see there are great breakthroughs in some of the very hi tech areas, including aerospace. Our open economy and neo economic format are emerging. Our export and our investment overseas are ranking top in the world. Deepin deep in deepened reform has helped. We have solved problems in many different ways. And we have also widened and deepened our reform in many areas. We want to integrate our ways of reforms. And we have over 1500 items in our reform. The reformed structure has been established. Socialism with chinese characteristics has also been perfected. The productivity has been in proved. And our innovation has been improved. Democracy has been advanced. Were actively seeking socialist political system, a good legal system, leadership of the communist party, and for the public to have more say. The leadership of the communist party of china has also been improved. Democracy within the party can also be seen. We unite those patriots in other parties. Our legislation and our enforcement of the legislation has been fully implemented. A legal system with socialism with chinese characteristics has been launched. The nation and that people have more sense of a legal system. A reform in the legal system can also be seen and Law Enforcement has been more effective. Thought and culture have also some breakthroughs. We strengthen the leadership of the communist party of chinas leadership. Marxism has been enhanced as a guideline for us. Socialism with chinese characteristics and a chinese stream have been deeply rooted in everybodys parts. Hearts. The government has pushed forward on the cultural and spiritual activities. Ourarts is cultural and spiritual activities. Our arts is flourishing. Our internet infrastructure and the management has also been improved. Sports can also be seen as popular amongst the people. Positive energy can be felt and our confidence can be seen. The soft power of china and chinese cultures influencing the world has been increased. The whole party and the whole society have more common ideas and opinions. The peoples lives have been improved. We implement policies to benefit the people. The accessibility for the people. The accessibility for the people has been improved. 60 Million People has been improved. 60 Million People who used to live under the poverty line have been lifted out of poverty. Our education has also been fully implemented. Education in middle and remote parts of china is more accessible. And the increase in the rise of wages exceed the growth of the gdp. Social Security System has been in place. Health and care system have been improved. Housing is available. We keep the order of the society. Because system has also made some improvement. We have pushed forward nationwide green growth and green economy. We have eliminated the environmental unfriendliness. National park pilot scheme is going well. We have also reduced Energy Consumption in our production. Ourforest coverage is increasing. Ecosystem management has been improved. Our cooperation in the International Arena to tackle Climate Change can also see great contribution from china. On the defence, we have also opened a new page. Weve focused on realising the chinese stream, and also a strong defence chinese dream. We fully implement mobilisation of the military. We have also hosted military. We have also hosted military congresses and to pass down the good tradition in the army. The reform in defence and in the military have also made great progress. We now have built different types of military and have also Good Division in different regions of china for the military is. We have increased exercise for the searchers. And searches also ta ke the searchers. And searches also take part in Natural Disaster relief. And also in International Humanitarian activities. The peoples army under these chinese characteristics have started the long march. Works on taiwan and hong kong and macau have all entered a new stage. To make it possible for the central governments management over those regions under the basic law and to ensure the prosperity of hong kong, macau, we insist on the one china system and september two consensus. We in hans economic and Cultural Exchange across the straits and increase face to face meetings. We have also adapted to the changes in taiwan. And we vigorously are going against the four step, wanting to have independence of taiwan. We have fully expended International Diplomatic relations. And to implement the diplomatic policy as a great power should have. So, there we are, president xi jinping addressing the coming as party congress, giving the opening speech before what is a week long congress. Really a look back over the last five years from president xi. Big on achievements and short on detail. It was a Shopping List of the last five yea rs. Was a Shopping List of the last five years. Everything from green growth to healthcare to military fitness and lots else in between. Running through what the communist party has achieved for china over the last half a decade. He said it was an Important Congress at a critical time. The future is very bright but the challenges are grave. We are yet to get onto the challenges. President xijinping is yet to get onto the challenges. President xi jinping is still going. He said the last five years have been unusual because of what he described as the weak world economy. But he said chinas economy is working at high speed, ranking high in the world. And he says contributing 30 to the world economy. So, now, iamjoined by associate professor of Political Science at the university of albany in the us. She is an expert on chinese politics. Thank you for joining us on bbc news. Have you been listening in to president xi jinping and what do you make of the first minutes . Yes, i have been listening since the very beginning. So fari listening since the very beginning. So far i dont think there are any surprises. We have been hearing a lot of familiar phrases, catchphrases. Including the chinese stream, national rejuvenation, the four comprehensives, one belt, one road, i think hes tried to say he has achieved a lot in the last five yea rs. Has achieved a lot in the last five years. And as you just said, there is this whole list of things that he has done. And so far i think it is just a reiteration of what weve heard in the last five years, both the catchphrases, really nothing surprising at this point. No, interestingly, you picked up on chinese stream. I counted at least two of them. Can you explain for viewers around the world what he means when he is referring to the chinese dream. I think he is really talking about continuing to improve peoples Living Standards and basically modernising chinese economy. So ultimately he is painting this beautiful picture of wealthy, Prosperous Society where people can just enjoy life. And this is obviously an aspiration many Chinese People share. Do you think it isa Chinese People share. Do you think it is a fair assessment, this rosy picture, as you describe it . Well, you might have noticed that in this rosy picture there is really not much room for political legalisation or democratisation. It is very much economically oriented. So obviously if you are looking at the materialistic side of things, you know, it is a