China’s propaganda machine is embracing a new slogan to entrench Xi Jinping’s status

Communist Party’s ideology chief, Wang Huning, tells officials to highlight the historical significance of the ‘two establishments’

It first appeared in a resolution on history approved in November and refers to establishing Xi as ‘core’ leader and establishing his political doctrine

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Published: 9:17pm, 6 Jan 2022Updated: 5:32pm, 15 Apr 2022

Among the messaging from China’s propaganda machine in 2022, expect to hear a lot more of the ruling Communist Party’s latest slogan – “the two establishments” consolidating Xi Jinping’s powerful leadership status.

That was the call from the party’s ideology chief, Wang Huning, at a meeting of propaganda officials in Beijing on Wednesday.

“To do well in this year’s work on propaganda and thought, [we] must highlight the historical significance of the ‘two establishments’,” Wang was quoted as saying by state news agency Xinhua.

Wang Huning, a Politburo Standing Committee member and the party’s ideology chief, said more needed to be done to improve “international communication”. Photo: AFP

The “two establishments” refers to establishing Xi’s status as China’s “core” leader and establishing his political doctrine, which was enshrined in the country’s constitution in 2018.

The slogan first appeared in a resolution on history that was approved by hundreds of top party officials in November and cemented Xi’s status, putting him on par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

It was just the third resolution of its kind since the party was founded 100 years ago, and reviewed its achievements with a heavy focus on those since Xi took power.

The resolution described the “two establishments” as reflecting Xi’s support across the party, the armed forces and the people. It said they were of “decisive significance” for advancing the party’s “core” and China’s rise.