China's third plenum kicks off as GDP disappoints: 5 things to know

SHANGHAI -- China's top Communist Party officials are gathering in Beijing for a meeting known as the third plenum, from Monday to Thursday.

The event comes at a crucial moment for the Chinese economy, as policymakers grapple with a persistent property crisis, sluggish domestic demand and rising trade barriers overseas. Underscoring the challenge, China released disappointing gross domestic product data for the second quarter on Monday, with growth missing forecasts at 4.7%.