Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday became the first leader of the ruling Communist Party after founder Mao Zedong to get re-elected for an unprecedented third term in power with the prospect of ruling China for life.

Xi, 69, was elected on Sunday morning as general secretary of the Communist Party for a third consecutive five-year tenure by the Central Committee. The Central Committee session, presided over by Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members, an official communique here said.

The Central Committee also approved a 24-member Politburo that in turn elected a seven-member Standing Committee, which is packed with Xi’s supporters.

In a familiar pattern, all seven members of the Standing Committee, the most powerful body that governs the country, walked in a file with Xi leading the group at the ornate Great Hall before the media. Their appearance was telecast live on national media.

“I was re-elected as the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee,” Xi said and introduced the other six.

Addressing the media, Xi said China and the world needed each other and projected a positive picture of the Chinese economy, which is in a slowdown mode especially due to his resolve to implement a zero-Covid policy resulting in lockdowns of several top cities leading to supply chain disruptions.

“Just as China cannot develop in isolation from the world, the world needs China for its development. The Chinese economy has a great reliance potential and latitude. Its strong fundamentals will not change and it will remain on a positive trajectory over the long run. China will open its doors wide,” he said.

“We will be steadfast in deepening reform and opening up across the board in pursuing high-quality development. A prosperous China will create many more opportunities for the world,” Xi said, playing down concerns at home and abroad over his emphasis on Marxism and his new goal to turn China into a modern socialist country.

To the cadre of the CPC, Xi said: “We must show greater historic initiative in adopting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, (and) write new chapters in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.”

“We must make sure that our century-old party, the biggest in the world, will become ever more vigorous through self-reform….”

“China is embarking on a long journey, one filled with glories and dreams. The road map has been drawn and the bugle has been sounded. We must forge ahead with enterprise and fortitude and endeavour to create an even better future for our country,” Xi said.

Putin congratulates Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday and said he looked forward to further developing a “comprehensive partnership” between their two countries.

“The results of the Party Congress fully confirm your high political authority, as well as the unity of the party you lead,” Putin told Xi.Xi and Putin signed a “no limits” partnership three weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, China has taken a careful line, criticising western sanctions against Russia but stopping short of endorsing or assisting in the war.

Reuters