Chinese president Xi solidifies his position as leader following the closure of congress

The Chinese Communist Party’s twice-decade congress came to a conclusion on Saturday. It approved changes to its charter aimed at cementing Xi Jinping’s fundamental role and unveiled a new Central Committee that was missing two important members who did not have close ties to Xi.

Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Yang are the two significant members who were not included in the party’s latest decided central committee. Which according to analysts, who suggest that this is a sign that the upcoming Politburo Standing Committee, to be unveiled around noon (0400 GMT) on Sunday, is likely to be filled with people close to Xi.

Li, who will step down as premier in March, and Wang, who is in charge of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, are both 67 years old and so eligible to have spent an additional five years on the powerful seven-member Standing Committee based on Chinese age rules.

Experts and media reports believe that xi will add four new members to the Standing Committee, but neither is thought to have a close relationship with him. Current Central Committee members Wang Huning, 67, and Zhao Leji, 65, who are both seen as being close to Xi, were both re-elected, and they are expected to be reappointed to the PSC.

Two more PSC members are past the age of retirement.

Li and Wang both have connections to the Communist Youth League, a formerly powerful organisation that analysts say has lost influence under Xi. Wang had been viewed by some party observers as a frontrunner to succeed Li as premier.

According to Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of China studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, “Xi Jinping is trying to consolidate the premier position, not only that of the general secretary.”