Jakarta –
Xi Jinping officially became President of China for the third term. Congratulations also came from world leaders.
Reported AFP and Channel News AsiaFriday (10/3/2023), Xi Jinping elected monthly by nearly 3,000 members of China’s parliament, or the so-called National People’s Congress (NPC). There were no other candidates in that election.
Voting was carried out at the NPC annual meeting which was held at the Great People’s Square in Beijing since last weekend. The NPC’s appointment of Xi as China’s third term President comes after he was confirmed to serve the next five years as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese military leader — the two most significant leadership positions in Chinese politics — in October last year.
At the NPC meeting, the 69-year-old Xi also received unanimous support for a third term as chairman of China’s Central Military Commission. Meanwhile, Zhao Leji was elected as the new NPC chief and Han Zheng became his deputy. Both come from among the party leadership team on Xi’s Standing Committee of the Politburo.
Xi’s candidacy for the next five years in a third term was made possible after changes to China’s Constitution in 2018, which removed term limits for China’s President. Xi also established himself as the most influential ruler in China since Mao Zedong — the founder of the People’s Republic of China, who ruled for almost three decades.
Greetings from Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Xi Jinping on his third term as President of China. Putin praised the growing relationship between Russia and China.
“Dear friendplease accept my sincere congratulations,” Putin said in a statement issued by the Kremlin, as reported by news agencies AFPFriday (10/3/2023).
He said Russia highly appreciates Xi’s contribution in strengthening relations between the two countries. Putin said he was sure that the cooperation between Russia and China would be beneficial in all fields.
“Russia highly appreciates your personal contribution to strengthening relations and strategic cooperation between our countries,” he said.
“I am sure that by working together, we will ensure the fruitful development of Russia-China cooperation in all different areas. We will continue to coordinate cooperation on the most important regional and international issues,” Putin said.
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(haf/haf)
