Beijing/Moscow: Xi Jinping,69, who set history by becoming the President of China for a record third term on October 22, 2022, even as the official announcement to this effect will be made during the annual legislative sessions in March 2023, predictably got re-elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China for a third five-year term, today. Only Mao Zedong had previously held the General-Secretary’s post for three terms.
The announcement about Xi becoming the General Secretary was made after the first meeting of the about 200-member new Central Committee which got elected yesterday by the 2,340 party delegates (of the 2,379 elected (2,296) and specially-invited (83) delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress) at the conclusion of the weeklong Communist Party’s Congress at the Great hall of People in Beijing. The Central Committee will govern the Communist Party of China for the next five years, here today.
Earlier, the congress yesterday paved the way for Xi’s re-election to the post. The decision is expected to make Xi cement his leadership position in the country. It is also an endorsement of his decision to scrap the two-term limit for President, as well as the 68-year age limit. This could allow him to rule indefinitely. Reports suggest that his loyalists secured most key positions in the Central Committee.
At the opening of the congress on October 16, 2022, Xi had thrown enough light on his upcoming agenda. Referring to the missions and tasks of the CPC on the new journey of the new era, he said: “On the journey ahead, we must firmly adhere to the following major principles: upholding and strengthening the Party’s overall leadership; following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; applying a people-centred development philosophy; remaining committed to deepening reform and opening up; and carrying forward our fighting spirit.
Xi stressed that China must “fully and faithfully” apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, advance reforms to develop the socialist market economy, adhere to high-standard opening up, and accelerate efforts to foster a new pattern of development that is “focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows”. He pledged continuous efforts to build a high-standard socialist market economy, modernize the industrial system, advance rural revitalization across the board, promote coordinated regional development, and promote high-standard opening up.
On his re-election to the post of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, Russian President Vladimir Putin – who of late has become a close ally of China – said the results of the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party fully confirmed his high political authority and the unity of the party he heads.
“It would be a pleasure for me to carry on our constructive dialogue and close joint work to develop the relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic alliance between our two states,” he stated in Moscow.
– global bihari bureau
