Chinese President Xi Jinping unveils new team for his record-breaking third term

Rising stars Li Qiang, Li Xi, Ding Xuexiang and Cai Qi join China’s highest decision-making body

‘We’ll be steadfast in deepening reform and opening up across the board, and in pursuing high-quality development,’ Xi Jinping says after announcing line-up

Reading Time:2 minutes

Chinese President Xi Jinping greets the media after unveiling the new Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:06pm, 23 Oct 2022Updated: 6:01pm, 23 Oct 2022

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.

Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping has unveiled his main supporting cast for his record-breaking third term, promoting rising stars Li Qiang, Li Xi, Ding Xuexiang and Cai Qi to the country’s highest decision-making body.

Together with ideology tsar Wang Huning, and former anti-corruption chief Zhao Leji, they make up the new seven-member Politburo Standing Committee led by Xi.

By bringing these fresh faces into his core team, Xi has laid the foundation for his rule for the next five years and beyond.

He brought them out to meet the press at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday, capping the Communist Party’s week-long 20th national congress.

According to state news agency Xinhua, the new order of hierarchy for the Politburo is party secretary Xi Jinping, 69, Li Qiang, 63, Zhao Leji, 65, Wang Huning, 67, Cai Qi, 66, Ding Xuexiang, 60, and Li Xi, 66.