BEIJING: Xi secured a precedent-breaking third term as president of China on Friday during a parliamentary session in which he tightened his control of the world’s second-largest economy as it emerges from a Covid slump and diplomatic challenges mount.

Nearly 3,000 members of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress (NPC), voted unanimously in the Great Hall of the People for the 69-year-old in an election after Xi locked in another five years as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October.

Since then, Xi has weathered widespread protests over his zero-Covid policy and the deaths of countless people after its abandonment. But those issues have been avoided at this week’s NPC, a carefully choreographed event that is also set to appoint Xi ally Li Qiang as the new premier.

On Friday, delegates handed Xi a third term as president and re-appointed him head of the country’s Central Military Commission in a unanimous vote.

PM Shehbaz felicitates Chinese leader

Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, a cavernous state building on the edge of Tiananmen Square, was adorned with crimson carpets and banners for the landmark vote, with a military band providing background music.

A digital monitor on the edge of the stage proclaimed the final tally all—2,952 votes had been cast in favour of giving Xi another term in office.

The announcement was followed by delegates’ fervent declarations of allegiance to the Chinese constitution, in a demonstration of loyalty and unanimity.

Xi held up his right fist and placed his left hand on a red, leather-bound copy of China’s constitution.

In an oath beamed live on state television, he vowed to “build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilised, harmonious and great modern socialist country”.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated China’s President Xi Jinping on being elected for the position for a third time.

“The confidence of the Chinese people and parliament in President Xi Jinping is a recognition of his extraordinary leadership skills,” PM Sharif said in a message of greetings on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.

The premier said, “President Xi Jinping has become a symbol of China’s development and people’s prosperity. Under his leadership, China has become the world’s top economic power and this journey continues.”

China’s close ally Russia also offered Xi its “sincere congratulations” on his re-election.

“Russia highly values your personal contribution toward the strengthening of ties... and strategic cooperation between our nations,” President Vladimir Putin said in a letter to his “dear friend” Xi.

Also on Friday Wang Huning, a close Xi ally known for his prowess in ideological theory, was elected chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The non-legislative advisory body elected 23 vice chairpersons, including former Vice Premier Hu Chunhua.

Hu, a 59-year-old protege of Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao, lost his spot on the CCP Politburo last October.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023