Top aides to Xi Jinping were promoted in the Communist Party of China’s Politburo Standing Committee, but no woman could find a place in the top leadership position for the first time in years, according to the newly released list by state media.
Xi Jinping presented the Party’s new central leadership when meeting the press on Sunday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he secured a historic third term as the country’s top leader. Xi Jinping was elected general secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the committee’s first plenary session today, Xinhua reported.
The session, presided over by Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members. Xi was also named chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission at the session.
Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi were elected as members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
The all-men Politburo Standing Committee, including four newcomers, are all Xi loyalists, The Strait Times reported.
The report said vice-premier Hu Chunhua, who was up for promotion, was a surprise exclusion. Meanwhile, one surprise elevation was Shanghai party chief Li Qiang who is now set to be the next premier.