China’s Xi Jinping on Friday began an unprecedented third term as the President, a move which cements his unchallenged grip on power.
He was unanimously voted for by 3,000 members of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s largely ceremonial parliament following the change in the constitution where the two-term limit for the post was removed.
The leader was also named commander of the two million-member People’s Liberation Army.
Xi’s reinstatement comes at a sensitive moment for China’s relations with the world.
The Chinese government is currently under pressure from Washington’s export controls on semiconductors, allegations of spying, and scrutiny of Beijing’s close relationship with Moscow, Xi this week explicitly named the US as the leader of a western effort to contain China.
The 69-year-old has turned himself into the most powerful leader by sidelining most potential challengers and filling the party with his supporters.
He had himself named for a third five-year term as party general secretary in October, breaking with a tradition under which Chinese leaders handed over power once a decade.
Over the next two days, Xi-approved officials are set to be appointed or elected to fill top positions in the cabinet, including Li Qiang, who is expected to be named as premier – China’s No 2 post – putting him in charge of managing the world’s second largest economy.
Source: Aljazeera