Xi was received with thunderous applause from the approximately 2,300 hand-picked delegates when he stepped onto the podium in the Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. In his opening speech, he said that the Party Congress is taking place at a critical time for China. He defended the strict corona policy that has hit the economy and sparked protests, and he hailed Hong Kong’s “way out of chaos to governance” after a new security law in 2020 crushed the democracy movement. – Taiwan must be reunited He further condemned what he called foreign interference in Taiwan and promised a fierce fight against what he called separatism and intervention in the self-governing island. – We have resolutely waged a great struggle against separatism and interference and shown our strong determination and ability to protect the state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose Taiwanese independence, he said to loud applause from the delegates. He said China hopes for a peaceful reunification, but also made it clear that China will never give up its right to use force if necessary when it comes to Taiwan. Against “hegemony” Xi also emphasized China’s opposition to a “Cold War mentality” in international diplomacy, although he did not mention the poor relationship with the United States or Russia. – China is against all forms of hegemony and power politics, is against a Cold War mentality, is against interference in other countries’ internal affairs, is against double standards, he said, adding that “China will never seek hegemony, and will never engage in expansion” . He further praised the anti-corruption efforts, which he said removed serious dangers to the party and the military, and he promised that China will actively join the global fight against climate change. Every five years The party congress is a major event that is only held every five years, and which approves the party’s and the government’s policies almost unanimously. It lasts until 22 October. Among other things, it is expected that Xi will be re-elected for a third term as general secretary of the party, contrary to what has previously been the practice of only two terms. Thus, he will with great certainty also be re-elected as president in March. Most powerful since Mao After ten years in power and now five more, he is China’s most powerful leader since Mao, with full control over the economy, domestic and foreign policy and the armed forces. The party congress takes place at a time when the Chinese economy is facing headwinds because the large property sector has slowed down, and because the corona pandemic with its quarantines and other restrictions hit tourism, business and industrial production hard
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