China's Xi expands powers, promotes allies
(23 Oct 2022) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4403229 RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Beijing - 23 October 2022 1. China's President Xi Jinping and six other Politburo Standing Committee members walking onto stage HEADLINE: China's Xi Jinping expands powers, promotes allies 2. Wide of leaders on stage ANNOTATION: China's ruling Communist Party has appointed a new all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, led by General Secretary Xi Jinping. 3. Various of Xi ANNOTATION: Xi was awarded a third five-year term as general secretary, a break with custom under which his predecessor left after 10 years. 4. Pan of Politburo Standing Committee members ANNOTATION: Three of the members are holdovers from the previous body, including Xi. 5. Wide tilt down of stage ANNOTATION: The exclusion of Premier Li Keqiang and other key members are seen as signs that other factions will no longer be welcome on the top body. 6. Officials on stage 7. Xi leaving ANNOTATION: Having discarded term limits, the 69-year-old leader is expected by some to try to stay in power for life. STORYLINE: President Xi Jinping, China's most powerful leader in decades, increased his dominance when he was named Sunday to another term as head of the ruling Communist Party in a break with tradition and promoted allies who support his vision of tighter control over society and the struggling economy. Xi, who took power in 2012, was awarded a third five-year term as general secretary, discarding a party custom under which his predecessor left after 10 years. The 69-year-old leader is expected by some to try to stay in power for life. Xi and other Standing Committee members appeared for the first time as a group before reporters Sunday in the Great Hall of the People, the seat of China's ceremonial legislature in central Beijing. Leadership changes were announced as the party wrapped up a twice-a-decade congress that was closely watched for signs of initiatives to reverse an economic slump or changes in a severe "zero-COVID" strategy that has shut down cities and disrupted business. The leadership shuffle saw the removal of Li Keqiang, currently the country's No. 2 official and a proponent of market-oriented reforms, which are in contrast to Xi's moves to expand state control over the economy. Xi has tightened control at home and is trying to use China's economic heft to increase its influence abroad. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
