Xi Jinping is the first Chinese leader after Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond two five-year terms...
Digital Desk: China's Parliament on Friday unanimously endorsed an unprecedented third five-year term for President Xi Jinping.
Xi, 69, was re-elected as leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) by its once-in-a-every-year Congress in October last year, becoming the first Chinese leader after the party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond the two five-year terms.
China's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), often referred to as the "rubber stamp Parliament" due to its mechanical and routine approval of CPC decisions, voted on the anticipated lines ratifying Xi's third term on Friday.
Xi is generally expected to rule for the rest of his life. He was already elected General Secretary of the CPC at its October Congress, which also elected new leadership for all of the party's main policy bodies.
This year's NPC annual session is important because it marks a once-every-ten-year shift in Chinese government leadership, including the Premier who presides over the State Council, the central Cabinet.
The term of the present Premier Li Keqiang will end with this year's NPC session. His successor, widely anticipated to be Li Qiang, a close associate of Xi, is likely to be elected by the NPC on Saturday.
The names of the new leaders were accepted by the CPC Plenum, led by Xi, a few weeks ago. The approval of the NPC is a routine formality. The new premier will speak at the annual news conference on March 13, the last day of this year's annual NPC session.
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