Chinese President Xi Jinping secured on Sunday his position as the head of the ruling Communist Party for the third five-year term, making a precedent and establishing himself as arguably the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.
As the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party concluded, Xi named new members of the Politburo Standing Committee. Shanghai party chief Li Qiang is expected to succeed Premier Li Keqiang after he retires in March 2023, while Zhao Leji and Wang Huning will continue to sit on the committee.
However, there will also be three new faces in the top party leadership - Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi - all perceived to be highly loyal to Xi Jinping.