China set to allow Xi to extend rule beyond 2023

China’s Communist Party has proposed scrapping time limits for the country’s presidency, laying the groundwork for party leader Xi Jinping to rule beyond 2023.

The party’s central committee has proposed to remove from the constitution the expression that China’s president and vicepresident “shall serve no more than two consecutive terms”.

“Xi Jinping has finally achieved his ultimate goal when he first embarked on Chinese politics – that is to be the Mao Zedong of the 21st century,” political analyst Willy Lam said.

Mr Xi, 64, cemented his status as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao at last year’s twice-adecade Communist Party congress.

His name and a political theory attributed to him were added to the party constitution as he was given a second five-year term.

It was the latest move by the party signalling Mr Xi’s willingness to break with tradition and centralise power under him.