Li Qiang now Chinese premier; Xi ends Deng Era
Photo credit twitter Zhang Heqing
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, March 11: Li Qiang, known for being a close confidante of Chinese President Xi Jinping, was endorsed as the premier of the Communist country after the annual parliament approved his nomination on Saturday. This also marked the end of the tenure of Li Keqiang as the premier of China who had pursued the economic worldview of his erstwhile mentor and former president Hu Jintao.
Li will be the nominal head of the administrative council, which is vested with the executive power, as Xi’s authoritative control over all organs of the state is now well documented. With a few votes against him and some staying away, Li bagged majority votes to get the parliamentary approval.
The event coincided with Xi’s third term as president of China, after he previously had forced amendment to the constitution of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to validate his rule for life. China-watchers have argued that the annual parliament of China also marked the end of Deng Xiaoping Era, which had seen the Communist country integrating with the world to reap the economic benefits.
“Deng Xiaoping (had) selected Li Keqiang as leader of (the) 5th generation of the CCP. Li led the CCP Youth League, headed two provinces, while he stayed for 15 years in the State Council Zhoongnanhai. Li’s retirement in parliament session marks the end of the Deng Era,” tweeted Sanjay Bhattacharya, former diplomat.
Endorsing Bhattacharya’s views, Su Fubing, a professor in New York, was quoted by the South China Post, saying “Any understanding about Li Qiang must start with the fundamental fact about his subservient role to Xi.”
It has been widely commented by the Chinese observers that Xi first had packed the CCP politburo with his lackeys and how the administration is also full of his acolytes. Li will soon be unveiling his economic worldview and vision amid the fast polarizing world. Li is expected to assert China protecting the growth path of the country, as the Communist nation aims for five per cent growth in the next fiscal.
Unlike the legacy of Hu, which was pursued by Li Keqiang, China is working out alternative to the US maneuver to cripple Beijing’s centrality in the global supply chains. Also, China is now seen exceedingly reaching out to East Asian neighbours to protect its pivotal role in the global trade.
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