Xi Jinping Secures Third Term As President

Xi Jinping was on Friday elected to a third term as president after the National People’s Congress unanimously voted for him at a plenary session in Beijing.

All of the 2,952 members present at the meeting at the Great Hall of the People voted yes, with no vote against and no abstention.

Xi was also unanimously re-elected as head of the Central Military Commission.

Zhao Leji was chosen as chairman of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee, to succeed Li Zhanshu.

Han Zheng was picked to succeed Wang Qishan as vice-president.

Both of them also received unanimous support from NPC members.

Right after the vote, Xi took his oath of office.

“I pledge my allegiance to the constitution of the People’s Republic of China, to safeguard the constitution authority, fulfil my legal obligations, be loyal to the country and the people, be committed, and honest in my duty, accept the people’s supervision and work for a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful,” he said.

Fourteen people were elected vice-chairpersons of the NPCSC, namely Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Losang Jamcan, and Shohrat Zakir.

Liu Qi was elected secretary-general of top legislative body.

Earlier, NPC delegates endorsed a plan to reform the institutions of the State Council, which will see the setting up of a national financial regulatory body and a national data bureau.

The Science and Technology Ministry will be re-structured.

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