Xi's supremacy cemented after CPC adopts landmark resolution

Chinese leader seen as having surpassed Deng in status and being on a par with Mao

- Tan Dawn Wei

President Xi Jinping made history yesterday after the top leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted a historical resolution bolstering his mandate and continued grip on power.

About 350 members of the party’s top decision-making body, the Central Committee, met for what is known as the sixth plenum of its current five-year term.

In a lengthy communique released by state news agency Xinhua at the end of the four-day conclave, Mr Xi’s name was mentioned at least 14 times, compared with Mao Zedong’s seven mentions; former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s five; and once each for former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.

The statement said the CPC should have the “correct view” of its history, adding that it should understand why it was able to succeed in the past and how it can continue to thrive in the future.

In a clear signal of Mr Xi’s continued leadership and key role in China’s future, the communique was full of praise for him, saying that he had “put forward a series of original new ideas and strategies on governance” and reiterating that his political ideology, Xi Jinping Thought, was “21st-century Marxism”.