Congress to enshrine leader’s philosophy in its constitution

China’s Communist Party will enshrine president Xi Jinping’s political philosophy in its constitution at its five-yearly congress, which will end on October 24, a spokesman said yesterday.

Mr Xi will open the gathering of about 2,300 delegates in Beijing today to reshuffle the party’s top leadership and accept a customary second five-year term as secretary general.

Congress spokesman Tuo Zhen said it will amend the constitution to embody the “new vision and thinking” over governance presented by the central committee with Mr Xi at its core.

Mr Tuo fell short of saying whether Mr Xi’s name would appear in the document, an honour that has been bestowed only on modern China’s founder, Mao Zedong, and the father of market reforms, Deng Xiaoping. Such a step would be a potent symbol of Mr Xi’s ascension to the pantheon of China’s leadership.

Analysts said Mr Xi could use the congress to consolidate his power by stacking the ruling council, the politburo standing committee, with loyalists.

Mr Tuo did not indicate when the names would be announced, but the members are usually presented to the public the day after congress ends.

Mr Xi, 64, and prime minister Li Keqiang, 62, are expected to remain in the committee while the five other members are supposed to step down, according to an unwritten rule that sets the retirement age at 68 or 69.

Mr Tuo said that China had set a clear direction on reform and opening up to the world and would not deviate from that course. He said the Communist Party would draft a new strategy for development during the next five years.

Meanwhile, China’s official Xinhua news agency yesterday attacked western democracy as divisive and confrontational, praising the harmony and co-operative nature of the Chinese system.