China's Communist party congress draws to a close – in pictures

Delegates raise their hands to vote at the closing session of 18th national congress of the Communist party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Ethnic minority delegates to the Communist party's 18th national congress pose in regional costumes for a photo in front of the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A security officer looks back as China's current president, Hu Jintao, address the assembled delegates at the Communist party's national congress in Beijing Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A paramilitary police officer guards an area inside the Forbidden City during the Communist party's 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man touches one of the huge doors of the Forbidden City, which according to tradition brings good luck Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Security guards keep watch as delegates to the Communist party's 18th national congress walk towards the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A paramilitary police officer guards an underpass across the road from the Great Hall of People, where thousands of delegates to the national congress have been assembling for the past week Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Paramilitary police officers march inside the Forbidden City Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A paramilitary police officer is reflected in a mirror as he rides a bicycle Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A paramilitary police officer stands guard in front of a giant portrait of the late Communist party chairman Mao Zedong at Beijing's Tiananmen Gate during the 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Ranks of paramilitary police officers march inside the Forbidden City Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A delegate attends a meeting at the Great Hall of the People during the 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A foreign journalist raises her hand to ask a question during a news conference during the 18th national congress of the Chinese Communist party Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man talks on a mobile phone at the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A security officer stands near the men's toilets at the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Staff members sit around a table as they take a break during the Communist party's 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Staff pose for pictures inside the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Zhang Jiahe, from the Chinese Teenagers News, raises his hand to ask a question during a news conference Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A delegate holds a meeting folder emblazoned with the emblem of the Communist party of China Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A delegate in ethnic minority costume prominently displays her name tag for the 18th national congress of the Communist party of China Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man on a coach passes the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where flags are flying for the 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A police officer checks visitors' ID in Tiananmen Square. Security has been stepped up in Beijing during the 18th national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man walking his bicycle passes a propaganda screen in Beijing during the Communist party's national congress Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man takes a picture of himself in front of the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man walks under a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong inside a shop Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Drivers of government cars chat at a parking lot Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

A man has a nap inside the Forbidden City Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters