China's president, Xi Jinping, secures office the third time

China's president, Xi Jinping, has officially been elected to a third term in office.

About 2,400 delegates gathered in Beijing on Saturday for the 20th party congress, the most significant gathering of the ruling Chinese Communist party, to decide on significant organisational reforms and constitutional amendments before the meeting's official closing on Saturday.

After several years of elite power-sharing, Xi, who has been in control for more than ten years, was elected the party's general secretary for another five-year term, returning the nation to one-man rule.

Along with being reappointed as head of China's central military commission, the 69-year-old Communist leader also retained control over the People's Liberation Army.

The event validates Xi's re-emergence as the nation's president for a third term.

The two-term presidential term limit had been eliminated by Xi in 2018, allowing him to rule indefinitely.

The announcement is anticipated to occur in March, during the annual legislative sessions of the government.

Following 40 years of intensive development, the country can now brag of rapid economic growth and long-term stability, according to Xi, who spoke on Sunday after the ceremony.

He added that the world cannot function without China and emphasised the need for the nation to maintain an open door to connections.

“China’s development can’t leave the world and the world’s development also needs China,” Xi said.

“After more than 40 years of unflagging efforts towards reform and opening up, we have created two miracles — rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

As they entered the stage in descending order of rank, Xi also introduced six of his supporters as members of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), China's most potent political body.

Xi, Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi are members of the PSC.

The new Politburo does not have any female members for the first time in 25 years, according to the Guardian.

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