The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convenes Thursday, with delegates from various walks of life attending, with a vast range of expectations.

The 2,270 representatives, including officials, workers and entrepreneurs, are selected from over 80 million Party members, and will be attending the congress scheduled to close on November 15.

A great number of reporters, including more than 1,200 from foreign media outlets, will be covering the twice-in-a-decade meeting.

According to the congress' media center, a delegation of 26 migrant workers will also be the first of its kind to attend a national Party congress.

Workers account for a larger amount of delegates this time than during the 17th Party congress, as their voice will be a major contributor to the Party's decision-making and democracy, said Zhang Xixian, a professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC.

Wu Yonghu, a village official delegate from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, said he hoped more attention would be paid to the living conditions of laid-off workers.

"The protection of migrants' rights and interests are my major concern," said Liu Pifeng, a lawyer from Shandong Province. Liu also pays attention to issues such as judicial reform.

Some 146 entrepreneur delegates, including 34 representatives from private companies, will also be present to share their views on China's economic development.

Zong Qinghou, founder and CEO of the Hangzhou Wahaha Group, a leading private beverage company told the Global Times that he expected the government would lower taxes and introduce more preferential policies for private companies.

"The government has been prioritizing central and State-owned enterprises and we do not always get a fair chance to compete. Beyond taxes, sometimes we are asked to pay an extra or hidden fee to get approval for deals, which involves official corruption," Zong said.

Zong noted that too much taxation, limited financial sources and the government's dominant say in approving business projects are forcing many private entrepreneurs to give up investing domestically and to move overseas with their assets, Zong noted.  

Private enterprises play an essential role in China's reform and opening up, creating job opportunities and contributing to national economic growth, said Zhang.

"We need to improve democracy within the Party but private companies have to earn their own place as well instead of asking for preferable treatment," Zhang countered.