Deputies of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) have re-elected Xi Jinping as the PRC’s president for a third term, according to Xinhua News Agency. This is the first time that the head of the country retains this position for the third time.
In addition, Xi Jinping also retained of head of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, notes Kommersant, who drew attention to the publication. The decision of 2952 voters was adopted unanimously. In addition, State Council First Vice Premier Han Zheng was elected Vice President of the People’s Republic of China. Zhao Leji, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was named chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
The vote took place during the third plenary session of the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress. Shortly before that, the deputies also approved a plan to reform the apparatus of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
The State Council is China’s highest executive body. The final reform plan has not yet been published. It is known to strengthen the “centralized leadership” of the Chinese Communist Party and should improve the efficiency of the state apparatus.
Xi Jinping is 69 years old. He became general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in 2012 and was elected president of the People’s Republic of China in 2013 and 2018. In 2017 and 2022, he was re-elected general secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee.
In February, it became known that Chinese President Xi Jinping was planning to come to Moscow. It is the first visit by a Chinese leader since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine a year ago. Beijing reportedly intends to convince the Kremlin not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
China is considering supplying drones, artillery and ammunition to Russia, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported on February 25, citing sources close to US intelligence. Beijing has previously denied plans to supply arms to Moscow.
