The Communist Party of China (CPC) has concluded its 20th Congress with the installation of a new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), a seven-member panel headed by President Xi Jinping as general secretary. Xi has secured an unprecedented and historic third term, and will serve for five years until the 21st Party Congress.
He reported on the party's achievements during the last five years, during which he presided over China’s emergence as the world’s second biggest economy and a more assertive posture in global affairs. He also discussed the government’s efforts to stem the tide of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While Xi addressed some 2,296 Party delegates at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the Party's 96.7 million members watched intently together with the rest of the nation as his message would have a direct impact on their lives.
The president also noted that Hong Kong had a major transition from chaos to governance and reiterated China’s policy of reunification with Taiwan. He also emphasized the anti-corruption campaign targeting government officials and their cohorts in the business sector.
On foreign policy, President Xi emphasized: “China's international influence, appeal and power to shape the world has significantly increased.”
It has been a decade since Xi Jinping took the reins of leadership, beginning with the 18th Congress, where he became general secretary, and introduced the age of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. He consolidated his leadership with his election as president and chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission.
When the CPC amended its Constitution, the Party included Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the charter. This eponymous ideology put Xi on par only with Chairman Mao Zedong and paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
Under Xi Jinping’s direction of the Politburo Standing Committee, China has eradicated extreme poverty and achieved the United Nations’ poverty reduction target 10 years ahead of schedule. During the past decade, China also accomplished its first centennial goal of building a moderately prosperous society, by adhering to people-centered governance.
One reason why China is fast becoming a world leader is the party’s strong leadership, and Xi made explicit the supreme role of the party by proclaiming in 2017: “Party, government, military, people, education; east, south, west, north, central: the party leads everything.” He even reminded the state media that their “surname is the party,” and that their information efforts should work for the benefit of the Chinese people and the party.
China-Hong Kong is among the Philippines’ leading export trading partners, and strong people-to-people programs have characterized the two countries’ decades-long bilateral relations. Indeed, the Philippines has a vital stake in China's continued progress, sharing of technologies and international cooperation efforts.
We felicitate the Chinese people on the successful completion of their 20th Congress and wish them and their leaders continuing progress and stability.