China: Communist Party Endorses Xi's 'Core Position' As Key Congress Concludes

Jinping, who expressed his determination of securing a third term in office, said, “Dare to struggle, dare to win, bury your heads and work hard, be determined to keep forging ahead."

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Source : AFP

New Delhi: The Communist Party of China endorsed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 'core position' as the five-yearly Communist Party Congress session wrapped up on Saturday with President Xi Jinping set to seal a norm-breaking third term in power. All party members will be obliged to "uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole", according to a unanimously passed resolution on changes to the party charter, reported news agency AFP.

The party also enshrined opposition to Taiwan's independence into Constitution. "(The Congress) agrees to include in the Party Constitution statements on... resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking 'Taiwan independence'," the resolution noted. 

Xi's speech ended a week of largely rubber-stamp meetings among 2,300 party delegates, who were selected by the party to approve a reshuffle of its leadership. He is widely expected to be unveiled as general secretary on Sunday.

'Dare to struggle, dare to win'  

In his address at the closing ceremony, Jinping expressed his determination of securing a third presidential term in office. “Dare to struggle, dare to win, bury your heads and work hard, be determined to keep forging ahead,” Jinping said.

On Saturday, China’s ruling Communist Party approved an amendment to the party constitution that could further bolster Xi Jinping’s leadership.

The party approved amendments to its constitution, including the so-called “Two Establishes” and “Two Safeguards”, as per the Guardian report. The text of the amendment was not immediately released, reported AP. However, the announcer read out the reasoning behind the approval citing Xi and his accomplishments in strengthening the military and the economy and reinforcing the party’s authority.

This year's Congress is seen as a significant political event for the future of China and for the world. Xi Jinping is most likely to be elected to a third five-year term as head of the government, party, and chairman of the central military commission of the world's second-largest economy.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, a proponent of economic reforms, is among four top officials removed from Communist Party leadership, according to the news agency AP.

The next Politburo Standing Committee to be unveiled on Sunday is expected to be stacked with people close to Xi, believe analysts.

At the previous congress in 2017, the party elevated Xi’s status by enshrining his ideas — known as “Xi Jinping Thought” — in its charter. Xi is expected to retain the top spot when the new leadership of the party is unveiled on Sunday.

Xi, over the last seven days, held several closed-door meetings with top officials in Beijing.

Chinese state-run news agency CGTN on its website said that the 20th CPC Central Committee and the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) were elected during the closing session, which was presided over by Xi Jinping.