On Monday, March 11, the annual congress of the National People's Congress (NPC) ended in China with the traditional almost unanimous support of the leader of the ruling Communist Party, Xi Jinping. This was reported by Apnews, UNN.
Details
It is noted that the final press conference of the Premier, the second leader of the party, was canceled. It had been traditionally held since 1988, and it was the only time journalists could ask questions of the top Chinese leader.
The publication noted that the cancellation of the conference demonstrates the weak status of Premier Li Keqiang. His predecessors played a much greater role in leading key economic policies, such as modernizing state-owned companies, overcoming economic crises, and implementing housing reforms.
China's nearly 3,000-member National People's Congress approves a revised State Council law that makes China's version of the cabinet follow Xi's vision. The vote was 2,883 to eight, with nine abstentions. Other measures passed by similarly large margins.
The most negative votes were recorded for the annual report of the Supreme Court, which was approved by 2834 votes to 44.
Summarizing, the legislature's top official, Zhao Leji, called on people to unite more closely under the leadership of the Communist Party, "whose core is Comrade Xi Jinping.
Addendum
Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, in a commentary for Apnews emphasized that party leaders who run the State Council used to have much freer hands in determining economic policy
Xi has been remarkably successful in consolidating his personal power in the party, allowing him to become a key decision-maker in all policy areas
As the party advocates innovation and self-sufficiency in technology to build a modern, rich economy, it relies heavily on a more overtly communist ideology reminiscent of past eras.
It is noted that Xi has strengthened the party's role across the spectrum, from culture and education to corporate governance and economic planning.
Greater centralization of power has arguably helped Xi increase the efficiency of the central government, but the benefits may be outweighed by the costs of stifling policy debate, discouraging local innovation, and more sudden policy changes
Recall
China accuses the United States of misperceiving it and failing to fulfill the promises made during the Biden-Xi meeting, while updating its methods of suppressing China.