China has recently signaled its intention to play a greater role in global affairs by hosting talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.
Beginning his unprecedented third term as China’s president, Xi Jinping on Monday vowed to build the Chinese military into a “Great Wall of Steel”. China has recently signaled its intention to play a greater role in global affairs by hosting talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.
The agreement, signed in Beijing last week, is being seen as a major diplomatic victory for China as the Gulf countries believe that the US is gradually withdrawing from the Middle East. China’s parliament voted unanimously last Friday to grant Xi an unprecedented third term of five years, paving the way for him to remain in power for life.
In October last year, 69-year-old Xi was re-elected leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) at its Congress meeting. With this, Xi became the first Chinese leader since CPC founder Mao Zedong to be elected party chief for a third five-year term. In his first speech after China’s parliament unanimously endorsed him for a third term as president, Xi called for retaining the leadership of the CPC he heads.
At the closing ceremony of China’s national legislature, 69-year-old Xi said, “I am taking the office of the president for the third time.” It is also a heavy responsibility on my shoulders.” He vowed that he would “faithfully perform the duties assigned by the constitution” and “never let down the unwavering trust of the Chinese people.” Xi Said, “Security is the basis of development, while stability is a condition of prosperity”.
Xi also called for furthering the modernization of China’s defense forces and efforts to make the armed forces a “Great Wall of Steel”. He said that the country’s army is capable of effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. Xi said this while referring to the ‘Great Wall of China’ included in the Seven Wonders of the World. This huge wall of China, more than 20,000 kilometers long, was built by various rulers of China to protect against invaders.
Xi’s statement comes at a time when China’s relations with the US and some neighboring countries are strained. At the conclusion of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Xi stressed the need to maintain the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC’s leadership and the party’s main policy body, the CPC Central Committee. Xi, 69, is considered the party’s “main leader” on par with party founder Mao Zedong.
In his speech at the NPC closing ceremony attended by nearly 3,000 legislators, Xi said it was important to be vigilant and resolute in dealing with the special challenges faced by a large party like the CPC. He underlined the importance of always pursuing self-improvement and having the courage to fight corruption with determination, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Disclaimer:Prabhasakshi has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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