China Opens 7th Plenary Session of Communist Party... Xi Jinping's Final Preparations for Third Term

Poetry Annotation Likely to Emphasize 'Core Position'

Chinese President Xi Jinping. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The 7th Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (7th Plenum) opened on the 9th in Beijing.

China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that the 7th Plenum opened that morning in Beijing. The Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China announced on August 30 that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (20th Party Congress) would open on October 16, and prior to that, the 7th Plenum of the 19th Central Committee would be held from October 9.

The 7th Plenum, held behind closed doors with about 200 members of the 19th Central Committee and approximately 170 alternate members, is the final preparatory stage for the 20th Party Congress, which will effectively formalize President Xi Jinping's extension of power. At this meeting, the detailed schedule related to the opening of the 20th Party Congress on the 16th will be decided, and discussions on amendments to the Party Constitution will take place. According to reports, General Secretary Xi explained the draft work report to the Central Committee members on behalf of the 19th Central Committee at the opening ceremony of the Party Congress. Additionally, Wang Huning, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, explained the proposed amendments to the Communist Party of China Party Constitution.

Hong Kong media have speculated that the proposed amendments to the Party Constitution will newly include the "Two Establishes" and "Two Safeguards," which emphasize President Xi's core status. The "Two Establishes" refer to establishing Xi Jinping's core status in the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, as well as establishing the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (Xi Jinping Thought). The "Two Safeguards" mean resolutely safeguarding Xi Jinping's core status in the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, as well as safeguarding the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.

The main event following the 7th Plenum of the 19th Central Committee, the 20th Party Congress, is expected to last seven days from the 16th to the 22nd, based on precedents set by the 18th and 19th Congresses. On the closing day of the Party Congress, the list of new Central Committee members will be announced, revealing roughly who will leave and who will newly enter the current Chinese leadership.

The lineup of the newly formed top leadership (the Politburo Standing Committee of the Party Central Committee) will be disclosed at the 1st Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, held the day after the Party Congress closes. At this time, it is almost certain that President Xi will be officially re-elected as General Secretary of the Party, opening his third term in power.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.