China is gearing up to change its top leaders, a process that begins at the end of the year. This week, the annual parliamentary session will give those in the running the chance to show off their credentials. The BBC's Michael Bristow profiles key figures.

The organisation headed by Li Yuanchao is one that few people outside China will have heard of.

The 61-year-old is in charge of the Chinese Communist Party's organisation department.

This body has details on all party members and, importantly, has enormous control over what jobs they get.

Many of China's former leaders - including Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping - have headed this department, showing just how important it is in a one-party state ruled by the Communist Party.

Mr Li also has experience in government. Before moving to the organisation department, he was the party chief in Jiangsu province.

He emphasised that the party needs to show people that it really is working on their behalf.

Image caption Mr Li said the party's ability to "pool resources" had helped it deal with the financial crisis

He was praised for trying to tackle an algae bloom on Lake Tai - pollution caused by hundreds of factories along its shores. It threatened drinking water supplies for millions of people.

Mr Li headed a delegation to Singapore to see if experts there could help solve the problem.

In Jiangsu, he also tried to make his provincial administration responsive to the public, setting up a system to allow them to evaluate local leaders.

Making sure party officials behave properly is a theme that he has continued to champion in the organisation department.

"Education, supervision, punishment and reform are all of essential importance in preventing misconduct in recruiting government personnel," he said this year.

He still, though, seems to believe in the supremacy of the party and its right to rule China.

At a speech given at Harvard University a few years ago he said the party's ability to "pool resources" had helped the country deal with the financial crisis.