Xi Jinping's reappointment

Xi Jinping is handed a norm-busting third term as president on Friday, capping a rise that has seen him become China's most powerful leader in generations.

The appointment by Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament comes after he locked in another five years as head of the Communist Party and the military -- the two more significant leadership positions in Chinese politics -- in October. — AFP

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei hit out at the country's rulers Monday, branding them "ruthless" after Xi Jinping secured a historic third term as leader.

Speaking in Tokyo after China's Communist Party wrapped up its five-yearly Congress at the weekend, Ai was referring to the dramatic exit of former president Hu Jintao from the closing ceremony.

Chinese state media said the frail-looking 79-year-old had been removed from the event in Beijing because he was feeling unwell, and that he had since recovered. 

But the extraordinary episode, with Xi seemingly unfazed as Hu was lifted from his chair and escorted out, prompted speculation over whether political factors were at play.

"It's very much like a fake photo of reality, because nobody moves, nobody blinks their eyes even, he is just forced out. But it shows the top central government leaders are ruthless," said Ai, who has lived in Europe since 2015. -- AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent his "warmest congratulations" to Chinese President Xi Jinping on securing a third term as head of China's ruling Communist Party, state media reported Sunday.

The unusually prompt report from Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency came after the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee elected Xi as its general secretary for another five-year term.

"Please accept my warmest congratulations to you upon the glad news that... you were elected again as the general secretary of the Party Central Committee," read Kim's message carried by KCNA.

"I, together with you, will shape more beautiful future of the DPRK-China relations meeting the demand of the times," Kim said, using the acronym of the North's official name.

China is North Korea's longtime ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged in the bloodshed of the Korean War, when Mao Zedong sent millions of "volunteers" to fight US-led United Nations forces.

Ties have fluctuated over the years due to Pyongyang's growing nuclear ambitions, but the two have been working to repair their relationship. -- AFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping was poised Sunday to secure a historic third term in power, cementing his position as the nation's most influential leader since founder Mao Zedong.

Xi is all but certain to be unveiled as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party again -- tilting the country decisively back towards one-man rule after decades of power-sharing among its elite.

His anointment will cap a week-long gathering of the party faithful in China's capital during which high-ranking cadres endorsed his "core position" in the leadership and approved a sweeping reshuffle that saw several top officials step down.

However, in an unexpected move that punctured the proceedings at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, former leader Hu Jintao was led out of the closing ceremony.

The frail-looking 79-year-old seemed reluctant to leave the front row where he was sitting next to Xi.

State media reported late Saturday that Hu had insisted on attending the session despite being unwell.  -- AFP

Wang Qishan takes the oath of office as China's Vice President during a plenary session of China's National People's Congress in Beijing.

China's rubber-stamp legislature has appointed a close ally of President Xi Jinping to the formerly ceremonial post of vice president. The appointment of Wang Qishan is expected to further Xi's agenda of shoring up Communist Party rule while ending corruption and poverty. — AP

Chinese president Xi Jinping has been granted a historic third term as head of the Communist Party of China.