Chinese President Xi Jinping secured a third term in power on Sunday and promoted some of his closest allies in the Communist Party of China (CPC), cementing his position as the country’s most influential leader since founder Mao Zedong.
Source: AFP
Xi was re-elected as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, state news agency Xinhua reported, tipping the country back to one-man rule after decades of power-sharing among the elite.
“I want to sincerely thank the entire party for the trust they have placed in us,” he told reporters at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after the announcement of the closed-door vote.
He promised to “work diligently in fulfilling our duties and prove the worth of great trust in our party and our people.”
Xi was also reappointed as head of China’s Central Military Commission.
With the appointments, the 69-year-old leader is virtually assured of his appointment as China’s president for a third term, to be formally announced during the annual legislative sessions in March.
His appointment put an end to the Communist Party congress, held in Beijing over the last week, which also approved a profound rearrangement in power with the resignation of several former Xi rivals.
The 20th CPC Congress elected a new Central Committee of some 200 members, who elected Xi and the remaining members of the Standing Committee, the pinnacle of Chinese political power.
Some close Xi allies were announced at the seven-member Standing Committee.
Former Shanghai party leader Li Qing, a Xi confidant, has risen to the No. 2 spot, potentially making him prime minister in March’s legislative sessions.
– Without Women –
“Xi has installed his allies in all seven seats of the Communist Party’s highest decision-making body, which will allow him to dominate the political system for the foreseeable future,” said Neil Thomas, China expert at the Eurasia Group.
The Central Committee also elected the members of the political bureau, which this time will have 24 members, according to the list released on Sunday. For the first time in 25 years, there will be no woman.
Since his rise to power a decade ago, Xi has amassed power like no other Chinese ruler except Mao.
In 2018, he eliminated the limit of two presidential terms, which opened the way for him to govern indefinitely.
He also spearheaded China’s rise to the world’s second-largest economy, fueled a massive military buildup and an aggressive international stance that drew strong opposition from the United States.
“After more than 40 years of tireless reform and opening-up efforts, we have created two miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability,” Xi said.
“China cannot develop without the world and the world also needs China,” he insisted.
Xi faces big challenges in the next five years, including managing the indebted economy and growing rivalry with the United States.
Following his re-election, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “warmest congratulations” and said he was “delighted” to continue the “constructive dialogue” and “close common work.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said for his part that he hopes for a “good future” in bilateral relations.
– Hu retired –
Sunday’s vote ended a week in which China’s top brass extolled its own leadership over the past five years.
Analysts were watching to see if the party charter would be amended to enshrine “Xi Jinping Thought” as the guiding philosophy, something that would put Xi on a par with Mao.
That did not happen, although the resolution did call the creed “the Marxism of contemporary China and the 21st century,” adding that it “embodies the best culture and ethics of this age.”
In an unexpected move at the Great Hall of the People, former ruler Hu Jintao was removed from the closing ceremony on Saturday.
The 79-year-old former leader seemed reluctant to leave his front-row seat where he sat next to Xi.
State media reported late Saturday that Hu insisted on attending the session despite not being in good health.
“Not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room adjacent to the meeting to rest. He is much better now,” the official Xinhua news agency reported on Twitter.
