Xi Jinping Pushes for State and Party Revamp Ahead of Possible Third Term
Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to present an "intensive" and "wide-ranging" reorganization of state and Communist Party entities at the annual meeting of parliament, Reuters reported on Tuesday, Feb. 28, based on Chinese state media.
During the three-day Central Committee meeting, he stated that the reform plan will be "targeted, intensive and wide-ranging," and might include changes in the financial system.
China's "rejuvenation" must be guided by Xi and the Central Committee as national governance is "modernized", the Central Committee said in a communique, according to Reuters.
A proposed list of leadership candidates will also be recommended at parliament, already approved by the Central Committee.
The decision on reorganization comes after news of China's weakened economic growth rate of 3% due to extensive COVID curbs, which were lifted in December 2022.
The new Cabinet, headed by a new premier, will face challenges due to weak consumer demand and a struggling property sector in China. Reuters reported, China's development still faces triple pressures including demand contraction, supply shocks, and weakened expectations. Per capita spending saw a rare decline, and urban employment fell for the first time in six decades last year.
Structural reforms by the Chinese Communist Party could lead to government security and intelligence branches being brought under the direct control of the ruling party instead of the cabinet – something that is seen as an effort to consolidate political power for leader Xi Jinping and a potential preparation for war, analysts told Radio Free Asia.
China’s top legislative body the National People's Congress begins its annual session on March 5, with President Xi Jinping expected to secure his third five-year term.
