“If Mr Liang is admitted to the central committee this will be a statement of reassurance to the private sector,” Willy Lam, a China analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said.

A Guangzhou-based newspaper, Time Weekly, reported that Mr Liang had been cleared by the powerful Central Organisation Department, which controls staffing positions in the party.

If elected, Mr Liang is likely to be an alternate – or reserve – member. Alternate members cannot cast votes on policy, but can be promoted to full voting members when an existing one retires or dies.