Xi Jinping, CCP To Hold Week-Long 20th Congress: Here's Top 5 Things To Expect

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Marking his decade in power, the Chinese leader is expected to make history.

President Xi Jinping will inaugurate the 20th Communist Party Congress on Sunday, where the 69-year-old head of state is expected to make history by securing a third leadership term, becoming China's most consequential leader since Mao Zedong.

The meeting of 2,300 delegates from all over the country will begin at 10 a.m. (0200 GMT) in Tiananmen Square's Great Hall of the People.

Highlights of CCP Achievements

The 69-year-old Xi will probably open the congress by reading a lengthy presentation in a televised address that summarizes the party's accomplishments over the past few years and lays out broad aims for the next five years. Most experts do not anticipate any major shifts in policies, per Reuters.

Xi, now in his 10th year as head of state, has pushed China on an autocratic course that prioritizes security and government authority over the economy in the name of "common prosperity."

Days leading to the CCP congress, state media outlets have intensified party propaganda, extolling China's accomplishments under Mr. Xi in news reports and TV programs.

Economic Recovery From COVID-19

In recent days, China has reiterated its commitment to the zero-COVID approach of Xi Jinping, shattering hopes among Chinese citizens and investors that Beijing may end a policy that has caused enormous discontent and economic loss.

Saxo Bank market strategist Redmond Wong on Friday noted that experts see no reason for Xi to make significant revisions to his policies.

The turmoil of the past year has caused China's economy to decelerate significantly, which has been exacerbated by the periodic lockdowns under the stringent COVID-19 policy, as per a CNN report.

Taiwan Issue

Xi and the CCP have been employing more forceful diplomacy, a more robust military, and increasing pressure to take over Taiwan. Hence, the world is anticipating what Xi Jinping says about Taiwan in his opening speech at the CCP congress.

There is apprehension that as the United States grows closer to Taiwan and China grows stronger, Beijing may eventually invade Taiwan to enforce its claim to the island, according to NPR.

Power Set in Stone

Xi Jinping is anticipated to win a third term as party head. Days before the congress, top CCP officials issued a declaration recognizing him as "the core" of the party and leadership. They also urged the party to rally even more strongly in his support.

The three most important posts in China are currently held by Xi: general secretary of the CCP, head of the armed forces, and president. At congress, he will most likely renew his terms for the first two titles.

No term restrictions are imposed by the CCP. In the history of the nation, Mao, the founder of communist China, was the only leader who got re-elected to a third term.

Deng Xiaoping, a reformist, limited the presidency to two terms in the constitution to avoid the development of another Mao.

But Xi has abolished this condition; in 2018, China's rubber-stamp parliament repealed the norm, letting him stay president for as long as he wishes.

Shake-up in Government

CNA reported Premier Li Keqiang, the party's number two, could leave the Standing Committee, experts say.

This is because Li confirmed in 2019 that he would resign from the State Council, as the constitutional term restriction for the position must be observed.

It has been speculated that Vice Premier Liu He, 70, who has overseen trade negotiations with the US and is a close ally of Mr. Xi, may be a candidate if age is not a consideration.

Executive Vice Premier Han Zheng, 68, might be a candidate if he does not push for retirement.

The fourth-ranked member of the Standing Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Yang, 67, is also anticipated to run.

Analysts also see Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, 59, as a viable candidate. The former Guangdong party secretary ascended through the ranks despite being from an opposing group, the Communist Party Youth League.