China’s CPC plenary ahead of Congress strengthens Xi’s grip on power

Beijing, Oct 13 (EFE).- The leadership of the Communist Party of China concluded its final plenary session in Beijing to pave the way for the 20th CPC National Congress in which the head of the party, Xi Jinping, is expected to continue as the country’s undisputed leader.

A communique released following the plenary session said that the CPC National Congress will open on Sunday in Beijing and announced an amendment to the CPC Constitution to further strengthen Xi’s position.

The statement said that despite facing “a complex and challenging international situation” the CPC had managed to secure “new and major achievements” to promote development and achieve stability, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

“The past five years since the 19th CPC National Congress have been unusual and extraordinary,” the communique said, as cited by Xinhua.

It added that the CPC had completed the “historic mission of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects” and was embarking on a “new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects”.

“An overwhelming victory has been achieved in the fight against corruption, and this has been consolidated across the board,” the communique added.

Xi hopes to head the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the CPC to control the regime with a third five-year term and keep his loyalists in top positions within the state, the military and the party.

A third Xi term has raised fears among human rights organizations that civil and political rights in China, already severely restricted, will worsen. EFE

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