October 23 marked another watershed day in the political history of China under President Xi Jinping; on this day, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, not only secured a record third term as the President but also presented the Party’s new central leadership when meeting the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The strongman of the Peoples’ Republic also presented six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee: Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.
With the conclusion of the week-long Congress, Xi Jinping consolidated his power as the new undisputed leader of modern China. Representatives from all over China unanimously endorsed the philosophy meanwhile known as the XI Thought, focused largely on internal socio-economic development and external collaborative mechanisms through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Interestingly, there was no mention of the BRI in the resolution with a greater focus on internal development back by scientific knowledge, research and hard work.
This was also reflected in the Resolution on report of the 19th Central Committee of the 20th Congress that was adopted unanimously a day earlier.
“The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course. Scientific socialism is brimming with renewed vitality in 21st-century China,”
The Congress with nearly 2,200 delegates drawn from all over the country, underscored three permanent features that serve as the guiding principles for continuing the socialist model of governance with Chinese characteristics i.e. adherence to Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. The Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is meanwhile the overarching philosophy that now dominates the republic.
“It is a political declaration and a program of action for the Party to bring together the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and lead them in securing new success for socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is a guiding Marxist document,” the resolution said.
With a reference to the economic strides that the country has made since Xi took over a decade ago, the resolution said:
The Congress stresses that we owe this great transformation to the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups who have striven in unity under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and established the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common will of the Party, the military, and the Chinese people, and it is of decisive significance for the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for advancing the historic process of national rejuvenation.
To advance socialism with Chinese characteristics on the new journey in the new era, it is most critical to develop a deep understanding of the decisive significance of the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; to strengthen our consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; to stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; to uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership; and to be more purposeful in closely following the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in thinking, political stance, and action.
The Resolution concluded with a call “on the whole Party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to stay closely rallied around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, to keep in mind that empty talk will do nothing for our country and only solid work will make it flourish, to maintain firm confidence, unite as one, and forge ahead with resolve, and to strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts.”
Below is the list of the 205 members that the 20th Congress elected at the closing session.
Ding Xuedong, Ding Xuexiang, Wan Lijun, Xi Jinping, Ma Xingrui, Ma Xiaowei, Wang Ning, Wang Kai (Henan), Wang Kai (PLA), Wang Yong, Wang Hao, Wang Qiang, Wang Peng, Wang Yi, Wang Xiaohong, Wang Guanghua, Wang Renhua, Wang Wenquan, Wang Wentao, Wang Yubo, Wang Zhengpu, Wang Dongming, Wang Weizhong, Wang Zhijun, Wang Xiubin, Wang Huning, Wang Junzheng, Wang Zhonglin, Wang Shouwen, Wang Chunning, Wang Lixia (f., Mongolian), Wang Xiaohui, Wang Xiangxi, Wang Qingxian, Wang Menghui, Ju Qiansheng, Mao Weiming, Yin Li, Yin Hong, Bater (Mongolian), Erkin Tuniyaz (Uygur), Shi Taifeng, Ye Jianchun, Feng Fei, Qu Qingshan, Ren Zhenhe (Tujia), Zhuang Rongwen, Liu Ning, Liu Wei, Liu Xiaoming, Liu Faqing, Liu Qingsong, Liu Guozhong, Liu Jinguo, Liu Jianchao, Liu Junchen, Liu Zhenli, Liu Haixing, Qi Yu, Xu Qin, Xu Kunlin, Xu Xueqiang, Sun Jinlong, Sun Shaocheng, Yin Hejun, Yan Jinhai (Tibetan), Li Yi, Li Wei, Li Xi, Li Qiang, Li Ganjie, Li Xiaoxin (f.), Li Fengbiao, Li Shulei, Li Yuchao, Li Lecheng, Li Yifei, Li Shangfu, Li Guoying, Li Bingjun, Li Qiaoming, Li Xiaohong, Li Hongzhong, Yang Cheng, Yang Zhiliang, Yang Xuejun, Xiao Jie, Xiao Pei, Wu Hansheng, Wu Yanan, Wu Zhenglong, Wu Xiaojun, He Weidong, He Lifeng, He Hongjun, Zou Jiayi (f.), Ying Yong, Wang Haijiang, Shen Chunyao, Shen Xiaoming, Shen Yueyue (f.), Huai Jinpeng, Zhang Gong, Zhang Jun (SPP), Zhang Lin, Zhang Youxia, Zhang Shengmin, Zhang Yuzhuo, Zhang Qingwei, Zhang Hongbing, Zhang Hongsen, Zhang Yupu (Hui), Zhang Guoqing, Lu Hao, Lu Zhiyuan, Chen Gang, Chen Xu (f.), Chen Yixin, Chen Xiaojiang, Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Min’er, Nurlan Abelmanjen (Kazak), Miao Hua, Lin Wu, Lin Xiangyang, Yi Huiman, Yi Lianhong, Luo Wen, Jin Zhuanglong, Jin Xiangjun, Zhou Qiang, Zhou Naixiang, Zhou Zuyi, Zheng Shanjie, Zheng Xincong, Meng Fanli, Meng Xiangfeng, Zhao Long, Zhao Gang, Zhao Yide, Zhao Leji, Zhao Xiaozhe, Hao Peng, Hu Zhongming, Hu Yuting, Hu Changsheng, Hu Heping, Hu Chunhua, Hu Henghua, Zhong Shaojun, Xin Changxing, Hou Kai, Hou Jianguo, Yu Qingjiang, Yu Jianhua, He Rong (f.), He Junke, Qin Gang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, Yuan Jiajun, Tie Ning (f.), Ni Hong, Ni Yuefeng, Xu Lin, Xu Xisheng, Xu Zhongbo, Xu Qiling, Xu Deqing, Yin Yong, Gao Xiang, Gao Zhidan, Guo Puxiao, Tang Renjian, Tang Dengjie, Huang Ming, Huang Qiang, Huang Shouhong, Huang Kunming, Huang Jianfa, Huang Xiaowei (f.), Gong Zheng, Chang Dingqiu, Tuo Zhen, Liang Yanshun, Liang Huiling (f.), Shen Yiqin (f., Bai), Dong Jun, Han Jun, Han Wenxiu, Jing Junhai, Cheng Lihua (f.), Fu Hua, Tong Jianming, Xie Chuntao, Lan Tianli (Zhuang), Lan Fo’an, Lou Yangsheng, Lei Fanpei, Shen Haixiong, Cai Qi, Cai Jianjiang, Pei Jinjia, Pan Yue
By Imtiaz Gul
Dated: October 23, 2022
Originally Published in Matrix Magazine
