Xi wins record third term as China’s president

BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping he won an unprecedented third term as the country’s president on Friday.

Xi was widely expected to remain president at this month’s mostly ceremonial parliamentary meeting, known as the “Two Sessions.” The annual meeting marks the meetings of an advisory group and a legislature, the National People’s Assembly.

Delegates to the congress on Friday also formally reappointed Xi as chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Xi rose through China’s political ranksbecoming president in 2013 and abolishing term limits in 2018.

At the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October, Xi consolidated his control of the ruling party by filling the highest circle of leadership with loyalists.

Zhao Leji, a member of that core group that oversees party discipline, formally became chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress on Friday.

After party congresses twice a decade, the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party move on to government posts such as president and prime minister.

Delegates are set to approve China’s new premier on Saturday.

Xi is scheduled to speak at the closing ceremony of the parliamentary meeting on Monday. The new prime minister will speak to the press later that day.

Han Zheng, previously executive vice premier, formally became vice president on Friday. Wang Qishan previously held the position.

Delegates on Friday approved a proposal to restructure the State Council, the top executive body of the Chinese government.

A draft of the plan was published earlier this week, and it comes as China’s ruling Communist Party is expected to significantly increase its direct control of the government.