The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party (16 images)

China's top leaders attend the opening ceremony of the18th Communist Party Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 8, 2012. Delegates of the Communist Party have arrived in China's capital for the meeting which begins the once-in-a-decade power transfer. President Hu Jintao will pass the leadership to Xi Jinping. UPI/Stephen Shaver

China's top leaders attend the opening ceremony of the18th Communist Party Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 8, 2012. Delegates of the Communist Party have arrived in China's capital for the meeting which begins the once-in-a-decade power transfer. President Hu Jintao will pass the leadership to Xi Jinping. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese delegates of China's Communist Party take photos in Tiananmen Square after the end of the opening ceremony of the18th Communist Party Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 8, 2012. Delegates of the Communist Party have arrived in China's capital for the meeting which begins the once-in-a-decade power transfer. President Hu Jintao will pass the leadership to Xi Jinping. UPI/Stephen Shaver

Chinese security attend the opening ceremony of the18th Communist Party Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 8, 2012. Delegates of the Communist Party have arrived in China's capital for the meeting which begins the once-in-a-decade power transfer. President Hu Jintao will pass the leadership to Xi Jinping. UPI/Stephen Shaver