Beijing: The ruling Communist Party of China has cut over 23,800 posts nationwide in local Party committees to improve administrative efficiency ahead of the 17th National Congress this year when a leadership reshuffle is expected.

The number of leadership posts or members of the standing committee of a local Party committee should not exceed nine in county level, and is limited to not more than 11 in city level, according to the Organisation Department of the CPC Central Committee.

So far, 92.4 per cent of China's townships, 82 per cent of counties, and 38.5 per cent of cities have completed the Party committee elections, sources said.

The western province of Qinghai and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have concluded all levels of elections, the report said.

After the reshuffle, most of the local Party committees have cut the number of deputy chiefs to only two. Meanwhile, more young, female and ethnic cadres have also been taken into the leadership.

In a circular, the organisation department on Saturday warned localities that they should not increase leadership posts without permission and should not give cadres preferential treatments which are not compatible to their posts.