More power to Xi expected as China’s Communist Party set to amend constitution in October national congress

Revision necessary to unify thought, enforce discipline and uphold policy directions, Xinhua reports, citing Politburo

Move aims to better enshrine President Xi’s ruling philosophy into the charter and will strengthen his hand, analysts believe

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President Xi Jinping is already considered the most powerful political leader in China since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:00am, 10 Sep 2022Updated: 5:09pm, 10 Sep 2022

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s position is to be further elevated after the ruling Communist Party announced it would amend its constitution at the upcoming national party congress, according to state news agency Xinhua.

This comes five years after the last revision at the previous party congress added Xi’s name to a body of guiding thoughts.

No details were mentioned in the Xinhua report yesterday. It only said that the 25-strong Politburo, the party’s top decision-making body, met and discussed key issues on Friday. They agreed to amend the party charter at the 20th national party congress in October.

The congress is also expected to to formally confirm Xi for an unprecedented third term as the paramount leader, and introduce sweeping changes at the top.

The revision was necessary for the party to unify thought, enforce discipline and uphold policy directions, the report said.

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