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Predictably, Li’s 105-minute address contained no mention of the outcry Xi’s bid to scrap term limits has stirred, particularly among liberals who fear a return to Mao-style despotism.
The Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, has kicked off a potentially momentous political summit in Beijing by instructing Communist party officials to “resolutely uphold” the primacy of president Xi Jinping and follow their sovereign in thought, word and deed.
Speaking at the opening of the fortnight-long national people’s congress – at which Xi looks set to establish himself as ruler for life – Li urged his country’s political elite to fall in line behind a leader now considered China’s most dominant since Mao.
“Entering a new era … we must resolutely uphold the core position of Xi Jinping,” Li told the nearly 3,000 delegates who had packed into the vast scarlet-carpeted auditorium of the Great Hall of the People.
Last week it emerged that Xi, 64, would attempt to use this year’s congress to abolish presidential term limits, a highly controversial move that paves the way for him to reign for decades to come.
In a speech peppered with adulatory allusions to China’s ascendant leader, Li signalled that delegates should back those proposals when they are put to the vote on Sunday.
He urged cadres to gain “a good command of Xi Jinping’s major policy addresses”, to “firmly uphold the guiding position of Xi Jinping’s thinking on strengthening the armed forces” and to “act on Xi Jinping’s economic thinking for ‘new era socialism’ with Chinese characteristics”.
He praised “the strong leadership of the party central committee” with Xi at its core for helping China overcome “a stream of risks and challenges” since he took power in 2012.
Announcing plans to grow the Chinese economy by 6.5% this year, Li also urged delegates to back Xi’s “inspiring blueprint” for China and his “three critical battles” - fighting economic and financial risks, extreme poverty and pollution.
“Unity gives us strength,” Li concluded to applause.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...he-leader-xi-jinping-in-thought-word-and-deed