Xi Jinping Expected to Extend His Rule by another Five Years

A key meeting of senior Communist Party officials has begun in Beijing, the Chinese capital, with the aim of tightening party discipline and ensuring that officials comply with directives from the central leadership. The meeting is also laying the groundwork for next year’s leadership transition, amid expectations that President Xi Jinping will remain in power for another five years.

President Xi Jinping briefed the four-day meeting of the Communist Party’s Central Committee on a draft document focusing on “self-examination within the party and the strict enforcement of discipline.” According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, the document addresses challenges facing the party, including improving governance capacity, avoiding complacency and negligence, and combating corruption. The fight against corruption has been one of Xi Jinping’s major campaigns.

In a commentary, Xinhua said that major decisions and plans adopted by the Central Committee must not remain merely verbal commitments. “It is essential to improve institutional rules and regulations, address weaknesses, strengthen safeguards, and ensure effective enforcement,” the commentary stated.

The Central Committee meeting will continue from Monday through Thursday. The current Central Committee was formed in 2022, and this is its fifth plenary session, commonly referred to in Chinese political terminology as the “Fifth Plenum.” According to analysts, the meeting could be the last major gathering before the expected leadership transition in 2027. Xi Jinping is widely expected to secure a fourth term in the party’s top leadership and remain in office for another five years.

Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College London, said the meeting would present Xi Jinping as a leader firmly in control and capable of continuing his leadership. According to Brown, the meeting is likely to focus heavily on Xi’s personal image and leadership in an effort to dispel rumours and doubts surrounding his physical health and his ability to remain in office.