Chinese Premier Li Keqiang asks govt to follow Xi Jinping as 'core leader'

Beijing: Days after ruling CPC elevated President Xi Jinping as its "core leader" equating with him with 'Chairman' Mao Zedong, Premier Li Keqiang asked China's cabinet and government departments to act in line with Xi's new role and decisions of the party to ensure discipline.

Li has called upon the leading party group of the State Council, China's cabinet, and various departments to keep their thoughts, politics and acts in line with the Communist Party of China (CPC) with "Comrade Xi" as the core, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

Speaking at a meeting, Li asked the official departments to strictly follow the Party's political discipline and regulations, improve supervision, resist corruption and withstand risks, and foster a team of civil servants that have firm beliefs, obey rules and are diligent and honest, the report said.

State Council's leading party group and various units under the cabinet were also told to become more aware of the need to uphold political integrity, keep in mind the bigger picture, follow the CPC as the core of the Chinese leadership and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy, it said.

"They were also told to voluntarily conform to the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core in thoughts, politics and acts, and more resolutely safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core," Li who is the second ranking leader in the party said.

His comments after the plenary meeting of the party, which is a policy making body in a four-day meeting that ended on October 27 elevated the status of Xi as "core" leader.

Only Mao, reformist leader Deng Xiaoping and his successor, Jiang Zemin had similar status in the party which was founded in 1921.

Li's remarks echoed a call included in a communique released in the plenary session calling on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core" and resolutely safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its central, unified leadership, the Xinhua report said.

Li noted that identifying Xi as the core of the CP Central Committee is of great significance to safeguarding the authority of the committee, the party's unity and leadership as well as the party and country's prosperity and long-term stability.