The 20th CPC National Congress Concludes Today... 'Xi Jinping's Third Term' Appointments to Be Announced Tomorrow

If the Central Committee member list includes Xi Jinping, '3rd term' is virtually confirmed
Standing Committee composition to be elected at the 1st Plenary Session on the 23rd

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Party Congress), which will confirm President Xi Jinping's third term, will conclude on the 22nd. If President Xi is included in the list of about 200 members of the 20th Central Committee to be announced on the closing day, it will effectively mark the beginning of 'Xi Jinping's third term.'

According to Chinese state media such as Xinhua News Agency on the 22nd, the 2,296 delegates of the Party Congress will vote for and finalize the list of the 20th Central Committee members, alternate members, and candidates for the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection after preliminary elections and review processes. If President Xi is included in this list, it can be interpreted as him maintaining his position as the top leader. Previously, former Presidents Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, who were not listed as next Central Committee members, stepped down from their positions.

A key point to watch in the new Central Committee list is whether the Standing Committee members remain. Media outlets such as the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) expect that President Xi, Wang Huning, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and Zhao Leji, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, will remain, while Premier Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Vice Premier Han Zheng are likely to step down.

The previously announced Party Constitution amendment will also be processed and disclosed on this day. In China, the Party Constitution is above the national constitution, and amendments to the Party Constitution are made at the Party Congress. The so-called 'Two Establishes' and 'Two Safeguards,' which signify President Xi's core status and power, are expected to be explicitly stated in the Party Constitution. There is also a possibility that the term 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era' will be changed to 'Xi Jinping Thought.' This would be similar in form to the current inclusion of 'Mao Zedong Thought' in the Party Constitution and is interpreted as an effort to strengthen President Xi's position within the Party.

On the day following the closing, the 23rd, the results of the top leadership appointments are expected to be revealed. The newly formed Central Committee members will convene for the first plenary session of the 20th Central Committee to elect the General Secretary, members of the Politburo Standing Committee, and Politburo members. The composition will be disclosed immediately afterward through a press conference, and the order of appearance will allow inference of their rank and positions.

Among the top leadership, close associates of President Xi such as Li Qiang, Party Secretary of Shanghai, Li Xi, Party Secretary of Guangdong Province, Ding Xuexiang, Director of the Central Office, and Chen Min'er, Party Secretary of Chongqing, are expected to newly enter. In particular, Li Qiang is mentioned as a strong candidate for the next Premier, while Wang Yang, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who was initially considered a Premier candidate, is expected to retire.

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