Xi strengthens his position, unveils new leadership

Text and pix by Ashwin Hemmathagama in Beijing

Undisputed strongman of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping received the much-anticipated nod for a second term to continue in the office of the General Secretary at the first plenary session of the 19th National Congress held yesterday (25 October). 

Apart from Xi, the newly-elected Standing Committee of the Polit Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee includes current Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng.

Throughout his first term in office and the 19th National Congress, President Xi was adamant that the CPC should remain committed to a people-centric philosophy of development and make steady progress towards enhancing the people’s sense of fulfilment and realising common prosperity for all. Locals believe that he would continue to maintain this position taking China forward despite diverse geopolitical turmoil adversely affecting China and hinder its growth.

According to local media, shortly after his reappointment, Xi has said: “The aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts. I have no doubt in my mind that our people’s lives will see further improvement year after year. This is a society to be enjoyed by each and every one of us; on the march toward common prosperity, no one must be left behind.”

With his title, “the General Secretary of the CPC” in a country with a single party system, Xi armed with unchecked powers of the world’s second largest economy will not find any barrier to execute his plans, now widely known as the “thoughts of Xi Jinping”. 

During the last few years, he has set an example to the CPC and the country by launching a strong campaign against corruption, impose ideological conformity on schools and imprison scores of activists and dissidents who would become a threat to China and its success.

According to local media, the newly-elected team would support Xi to govern China during the next five years and by writing his thoughts into the CCP constitution more power has been gained in many vertices. 

During the closing ceremony of the 19th National Congress on Wednesday, some 2,300 delegates unanimously passed the amendments to the party constitution, which included the “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” found in the preamble describing the CPC’s guiding ideology, including Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and the Deng Xiaoping Theory.