Xi another Mao in the making: Official media

Beijing, October 23

On the eve of a key meeting of the ruling Communist Party, speculated to amend the decades-old rule stipulating collective leadership, party’s official publication said China needed a strong leader like Mao Zedong and President Xi Jinping “fits the bill”.

The four-day meeting of the plenum of Communist Party of China (CPC) kicks off China’s political season which will culminate in changes at the top leaders except Xi and Premier Li Keqiang in the autumn next year when the party convenes its 19th Congress during which a new Politburo Standing Committee will be appointed.

Xi, 63, currently heads a seven-member Standing Committee of the CPC which virtually rules China.

Since he took over the leadership in November 2012, Xi has emerged as the most powerful leader of China in recent times starting his ten year tenure as head of the Party and powerful military, besides the Presidency.

While the Standing Committee in the past represented collective leadership principle enunciated over three decades ago, critics say Xi’s emergence as a powerful leader has overshadowed other six members of the Committee including Li.

By next year a new Standing Committee would be appointed for which jockeying has reportedly started.

Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, Peoples’ Tribune, which is affiliated with party’s official organ People’s Daily said, “China needs a leader like Mao and Xi fits the bill”. Analysts said the call to make Xi a strongman leader was an attempt to raise Xi’s status to the equivalent of “Great Leader”. —  PTI