Top officials of the Chinese Communist Party have opened a conclave in the seaside resort of Beidaihe in Hebei Province.

The monthlong secretive meeting at the resort some 100 kilometers from Beijing is seen as a barometer for the upcoming transition of power to a new generation of leaders.

The Beidaihe meeting will discuss and finalize plans to hand over power to a new leadership, following political turmoil caused by the downfall of Bo Xilai.

The Chinese Communist Party will unveil a list of new leaders who will run the nation for the next decade at the 18th party congress this fall.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported that Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to succeed current leader Hu Jintao, met 62 experts from every corner of Chinese society. Xinhua said that Xi encouraged the experts to make greater contributions to the development of China.