Communist Party congress to offer rare glimpse of China’s former leaders as Xi Jinping ushers in new team

Former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao among those chosen to oversee procedure of five-yearly gathering

The decision follows party practice and gives a glimpse at the health of the former leaders

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President Xi Jinping is widely considered the most powerful Chinese politician since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:30am, 16 Oct 2022Updated: 8:39am, 16 Oct 2022

China’s retired top leaders, including President Xi Jinping’s two immediate predecessors, will briefly return to the political limelight as the ruling Communist Party embarks on its twice-a-decade national congress, ending on October 22.

The party’s 20th national congress will begin on Sunday, with Xi delivering a work report in Beijing to some 2,000 party delegates from across the country. He will lay out the strategic plan for the party and the country for the next five years and beyond.

The congress will also endorse a revision to the party constitution that most observers believe would further elevate Xi’s position and governance philosophy.

But the most important mission is to complete a major leadership reshuffle.

Xi, widely considered the most powerful Chinese politician since Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, is set to confirm an unprecedented third term as the party’s paramount leader and reshuffle the top leadership to build a new team.

The party said on Saturday that it would set up a standing committee of the presidium of the party congress to oversee this procedure. This 46-member group consists of the present Politburo and retired Politburo Standing Committee members.

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