Chinese leader endorsed to begin new term
BEIJING — China’s rubber-stamp legislature on Saturday unanimously approved the reappointment of Xi Jinping as president with no limit on the number of terms he can serve.
The National People’s Congress also appointed close Xi ally Wang Qishan to the formerly ceremonial post of vice president.
Xi, 64, is considered the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Last weekend, he was given the right to continue in office indefinitely after the legislature scrapped term limits for the president and vice president.
Chinese officials defended the move, saying it would bring the presidency in line with Xi’s other two main positions of head of the party and commander of the armed forces.