China’s parliament on Saturday unanimously elected Xi Jinping as President for a second consecutive term, paving the way for a new leadership lineup that includes trusted ally Wang Qishan, as Vice President.
All the 2,970 delegates, who had been carefully handpicked, of the National People’s Congress (NPC), voted for Mr. Xi as President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Mr. Xi is already the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) — the core of China’s power structure.
In an unprecedented move, President Xi took a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People.
Only one delegate opposed Mr. Wang as Vice-President — the face and mastermind of President Xi’s celebrated first term anti-corruption campaign. In doing so, Mr. Wang staged a powerful comeback, after he had officially “retired” in October during the 19th congress of the CPC.
Analysts say that the resounding support among the deputies for Mr. Wang is significant. Eighty delegates had opposed, Li Yuanchao, Mr. Wang’s predecessor when he stood for Vice Presidency during the 2013 NPC session. Prior to that, 28 lawmakers had opposed Xi Jinping’s candidacy for Vice President in 2008.
Law makers also unanimously elected Li Zhanshu, Mr. Xi’s former chief of staff, as the next chairman of the NPC. The post becomes especially relevant as the burden of passing new legislation, is expected to mount, in tune with President Xi’s focus on “rule of law” as the template for China’s governance in the “new era”.
Besides, NPC legislators also approved a major reform plan of streamlining the central government structure, by slashing bureaucracy, improving institutional efficiency and ending turf wars.
Earlier during the session, lawmakers had discussed a plan to establish eight new institutions that included the formation of the State International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDCA), which would push President Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to industrialise Eurasia. SIDCA would also channel foreign aid, which could be used to leverage China’s influence abroad. The reforms also include setting up a new immigration agency, as well as a merger of China’s banking and insurance regulators under a China banking and insurance regulatory commission.
“The latest reform, which is based on scientific design, is no less than an institutional revolution that is of profound significance,” wrote Li He, Politburo member, and a part of the Mr. Xi’s core team, in the People’s Daily, the CPC’s official newspaper.
Analysts say that the Mr. Wang is likely to serve as Mr. Xi’s right hand man in advancing China’s overseas interests including ties with the United States, which are facing headwinds during the Trump presidency.
The South China Morning Post earlier reported that thorough revamp of the foreign policy architecture was currently underway in the NPC.
According to the report, the powerful international department of the CPC and the Party’s Leading Group on Foreign Affairs, which reports directly to President Xi are expected to merge.
It is likely that the new body will be headed by Yang Jiechi, a politburo member, under the overall supervision of Mr. Wang, the Vice-President. Wang Yi, the foreign minister is expected to step into the
shoes of State Councilor, vacated by Mr. Yang on account of his likely elevation to the new body.
