'China has achieved full control over Hong Kong': Xi Jinping in speech at CCP key Congress

All top officials except Xi Jinping are set to be replaced in a major reshuffle during the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Pic Credit: File Photo

Beijing: President Xi Jinping is set to be backed for a record third five-year term during the week-long crucial Congress of China's ruling Communist Party, breaking the almost three-decade tradition for top leaders to stand down after a 10-year tenure. In the reshuffle, all top officials, including Premier Li Keqiang, will be replaced later this week, with the exception of 69-year-old Xi. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in which 2,296 "elected" delegates under the norms and guidelines set by Xi will attend a closed-door meeting, is being held amid a rare protest against Xi and his rigid zero-Covid policy of widespread restrictions and lockdowns, resulting in the slowdown of the world's second-largest economy.

The Congress will be held from October 16 to 22, spokesperson for the Congress Sun Yeli told a press conference here on Saturday. Xi is due to present his work report to the Congress on Sunday.

Xi begins speech with asserting control over Hong Kong

China has achieved comprehensive control over Hong Kong, turning it from chaos to governance, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech on Sunday at the opening of the once-in-five-year Communist Party congress in Beijing as per Reuters.

China has also waged a major struggle against Taiwan separatism and is determined and able to oppose territorial integrity, Chinese President Xi Jinping said as quoted by Reuters.

Authoritarianism may rise with Xi's third term

Xi Jinping's third term indicates that China may fall deeper into an authoritarian regime as per a report by the Tibet Press. It said the party has for long worked toward erasing the distinction between the country and the party. Current leader Xi Jinping, even more than his predecessors, "has striven to condition the people of China to view themselves not as members of the ancient Chinese civilization, but as cogs in the CCP machine"

The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its first meeting on Saturday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. -bit.ly/3Tu0ZYx pic.twitter.com/NbKwxlNMhV

— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) October 16, 2022

The Party is deeply entwined with all aspects of the government. The government, the military, society and schools, north, south, east and west - the party leads them all, remarked a Chinese analyst as quoted by the Tibet Press.

(With agency inputs)