The world needs China, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a press conference following his historic election to a third term on Sunday.
China needs the rest of the world, but it also needs to develop, according to Xi. "After more than 40 years of relentless reform and opening up efforts, we have achieved two miracles: rapid economic growth and sustained social stability."
As he won a third term as party leader, the President further strengthened his hold on power by elevating his closest allies to the Communist Party's highest leadership position.
Current Shanghai Party boss Li Qiang — who oversaw a harsh two-month Covid-19 lockdown in the metropolis earlier this year — is likely to take over as premier from Li Keqiang, who will retire next year.
Close aide Ding Xuexiang, Guangdong Party chief Li Xi and Beijing Party boss Cai Qi were also in the new lineup, according to state media broadcasting from Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
“It is all Xi’s people, signalling he wants to rule even beyond a third term,” said Alfed Wu Muluan, a Chinese politics expert at the National University of Singapore.
The leadership reshuffle comes shortly after the party concluded its twice-a-decade Congress, a major political event in which a new Central Committee of around 200 senior Party officials is installed, then elects higher layers of the top leadership.
Current Premier Li Keqiang is destined for retirement after the annual legislative sessions next March, as his name was not on the list of new Central Committee members.