Chinese President Xi Jinping is pictured here on October 23, 2022 after consolidating his control of China’s ruling Communist Party.
Kevin Fryer | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Beijing – Chinese leader Xi Jinping Friday secured an unprecedented third term as the country’s President.
Xi was widely expected to continue as chairman at this month’s largely formal parliamentary meeting, known as “two sessions”. The annual gathering marks the meetings of an advisory group and a legislature, the National People’s Congress.
On Friday, congressional delegates formally reappointed Xi as chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Xi rose through China’s political ranksBecoming President in 2013 and ending term limits in 2018.
At the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October, Xi tightens control of the ruling party by filling the highest echelons of leadership with loyalists.
Zhao Lejie, a member of that core group that oversees party discipline, formally became chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Friday.
After the party congress, held twice a decade, top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party step in to fill government positions such as president and prime minister.
Delegates will approve China’s new premier on Saturday.
Xi is scheduled to address the closing ceremony of the parliamentary meeting on Monday. The new premier is set to speak with the press later that day.
Han Zheng, the former executive vice president, formally became vice president on Friday. Wang Qishan previously played the role.
Delegates on Friday approved a proposal to reconstitute the State Council, the top executive body of the Chinese government.
A draft of the plan was released earlier this week, And it comes as China’s ruling Communist Party is expected to significantly increase its direct control over the government.
