CHAPTERI BECOMING THE CORE LEADER In October 2016 top ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party CCP met for four days The private meeting took place in Beijing the nation's capital Afterward the CCP made an important announcement Xi Jinping China's president and the CCP's leader was getting another title The CCP named him core leader Only four leaders in China's past have received this highly respected title One was Mao Zedong Xi Jinping is China's first core leader since 2003
Mao was China's first Communist leader He built the foundation on which China rests today Now Xi has joined Mao on the small list of Chinese leaders known for leading their generation When Xi was granted the new title he was nearing the end of his first five year term as China's president If all went as planned he would serve a second term As president Xi leads both the nation and its military This takes great responsibility as the Chinese army is the world's largest And as the head of the CCP Xi leads millions of party members Becoming the core leader made his status even greater than that of president and party leader The title of core leader does not grant Xi specific abilities or responsibilities Instead it marks Xi as a force that should not be challenged By honoring Xi with the title the CCP made an
The CCP holds many meetings in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing important statement Xi would be the nation's ultimate and sole leader He would guide China forward with great strength Chinese officials and news agencies believe the title will help Xi in his fight against corruption Regardless of his success in this effort one thing is clear Xi is one of China's most powerful leaders in many years
