The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has elected Xi Jinping as party general secretary for a third term - for another five years. He also re-assumed the position of Chairman of the Military Council of the CPC Central Committee.
Before Xi, since the time of Deng Xiaoping, there was a two-term limit in China in this post, but in 2018 it was canceled at the initiative of the current leader of the country.
The new Politburo Standing Committee again included seven people, all of whom are believed to have close ties to Xi Jinping.
Earlier, former Chinese leader Hu Jintao, who was sitting on the presidium of the Chinese Communist Party Congress, was led out of the hall by the arms. Video footage shows that Hu, 79, who is credited by the media with being in opposition to Xi, was taken by surprise and was initially reluctant to leave his seat. According to the official version, the politician became ill. As the congress closed, Hu Jintao's seat next to the country's leader remained empty.
Two amendments were made to the charter of the Communist Party of China by the congress. The first amendment establishes "Xi Jinping's status as the core of the Central Committee of the CPC and the entire Party," while the second amendment obliges party members to defend "General Secretary Xi Jinping's status as the "core" of the CCP" and defend the leadership of the party. With such changes, Xi Jinping is actually equated with the legendary leaders of the past Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.
An "anticipated surprise" was the appointment of former top anti-bribery campaigner Wang Qishan, a key ally of President Xi Jinping, to the vice presidency on Saturday, underscoring Xi's dominating power.
Wang bowed twice and then approached Xi to shake hands with him after voting ended in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Only one person voted against Wang out of 2,970 votes cast.
Known as a "firefighter" for his central role in dealing with issues such as corruption and domestic financial problems over the years, Wang also has experience working with the United States in his former position as vice premier, who led economic negotiations with Washington annually.
He has been an important player in Xi's fight against corruption: Dozens of senior officials were imprisoned during his tenure as a top anti-bribery campaigner, including the fearsome domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, who is now serving a life sentence.
Wang's appointment may change what has traditionally been a ceremonial role.
China's relationship with the United States is likely to be a key part of its mandate, according to diplomats and sources close to the leadership.
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