The result of the deputies' vote, without appeal (2,952 votes for, zero against, zero abstentions), was greeted by thunderous applause from the parliamentarians gathered in Beijing, in the huge People's Palace bordering Tiananmen Square.

Since parliament is in practice subservient to the ruling Communist Party (CCP), the outcome of the vote was in no doubt.

The 69-year-old leader had already obtained a five-year extension in October at the top of the CCP and the Party's military commission, the two most important positions of power in China.

As soon as the result was announced, three soldiers in ceremonial uniform went down the stairs of the monumental room where the deputies met, before placing a copy of the Constitution on a desk.

The last few months have, however, been complicated for him, with major demonstrations at the end of November against his “zero Covid” policy and a large wave of deaths which followed the abandonment of this health strategy in December.

Congratulations from Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is a close economic and diplomatic partner of China, quickly sent Xi Jinping his "sincere congratulations".

"Russia greatly appreciates your personal contribution to strengthening relations (...) between our countries," Putin said in a message released by the Kremlin.

Xi Jinping's re-election on Friday crowns a remarkable political rise in which he has gone from politician little known to the general public to the most powerful Chinese leader in decades.

Author of a biography on the Chinese president, the Swiss writer and journalist Adrian Geiges believes, however, that personal enrichment is not his primary motivation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) crosses the ranks of deputies before the vote which will reappoint him to his post, in Beijing on March 10, 2023 © NOEL CELIS / AFP

"He really has a vision for China, he wants China to become the most powerful country in the world," he said.

For decades, the People's Republic of China, scalded by political chaos and the cult of personality during the reign (1949-1976) of its leader and founder Mao Tse-tung, had promoted a more collegial governance at the top of power.

Under this model, Xi Jinping's predecessors, namely Jiang Zemin and then Hu Jintao, had each given up their place as president after ten years in this position.

But Mr. Xi put an end to this rule by abolishing the limit of two presidential terms in the Constitution in 2018, while allowing a quasi-cult of personality to develop around him.

"More confident"

Xi Jinping thus becomes the supreme leader to stay in power for the longest time in recent Chinese history.

Septuagenarian at the end of this new mandate, he could even potentially extend for a new five-year term if no credible dolphin asserts himself in the meantime.

But his challenges remain numerous at the head of the second world economy, between the slowdown in growth, the fall in the birth rate or even the international image of China which has deteriorated sharply in recent years.

Relations with the United States are at their lowest, with many disputes, from Taiwan to the treatment of Uyghur Muslims, to rivalry in technology.

The Chinese National People's Congress in plenary session, March 10, 2023 in Beijing © NOEL CELIS / AFP

Xi Jinping again this week condemned the "policy of containment, encirclement and repression against China" put in place by "Western countries led by the United States".

"We are going to see a more self-confident China on the international scene, which will assert its discourse in a more pronounced way" while trying "to reduce its dependence on the rest of the world", predicts Steve Tsang, of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.

Parliament also held formal elections for other institutional posts on Friday.

Until now Deputy Prime Minister, Han Zheng (68 years old) was elected Vice-President to replace Wang Qishan (74 years old).

The chairmanship of the parliamentary standing committee goes to Zhao Leji.

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© 2023 AFP