Chinese party congress: 'Global governance' under Xi Jinping

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Chinese party congress: 'Global governance' under Xi Jinping

By Kirsty Needham
Updated

Beijing: The eyes of the world will be on Beijing on Wednesday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers the Communist Party's report on China's direction for the next five years.

Australian anxieties over its largest trading partner's strategic intentions may find some answers if, as expected, Mr Xi articulates his vision for his country's role in the world as a major power.

President Xi Jinping is expected to emerge from the twice-a-decade congress that starts on Wednesday as the most powerful figure in Chinese politics since Mao Zedong.

President Xi Jinping is expected to emerge from the twice-a-decade congress that starts on Wednesday as the most powerful figure in Chinese politics since Mao Zedong.Credit: AP

The signs are China's more assertive new foreign diplomacy will be showcased at the party's national congress in a way not previously seen.

Mr Xi is also expected to consolidate his grip on domestic power at the twice-a-decade meeting.

A 'deputised citizen' gives direction to a resident near a Chinese Community Party flag on the streets of Beijing on Monday amid extraordinary security measures.

A 'deputised citizen' gives direction to a resident near a Chinese Community Party flag on the streets of Beijing on Monday amid extraordinary security measures.Credit: AP

Around 2200 delegates will meet to usher change through the party's Central committee, up to the 25 members of the Politburo, and finally the seven-member Standing Committee.

Mr Xi will serve a second term as general secretary, and is referred to as the party's "core".

But in a further elevation, the party's constitution will be amended to insert a "theory" from Mr Xi, to rank alongside contributions from Mao Zedong and the great reformer Deng Xiaoping.

The official China Daily newspaper editorialised on Tuesday that China's "new diplomatic thinking" could form the basis of this theory.

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A man walks by digital display showing the Communist Party logo in Shanghai, China, on Saturday.

A man walks by digital display showing the Communist Party logo in Shanghai, China, on Saturday.Credit: AP

Mr Xi has clocked up 570,000 kilometres on his chartered plane in five years, spending 193 days abroad on 28 visits to 56 countries in five continents, according to the party's mouthpiece the People's Daily.

The newspaper devoted seven pages to Mr Xi's international diplomacy on Monday, including his contributions to economic globalisation, China hosting the G20, establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank - and his frequent flier mileage.

Visitors use smartphones to take photographs and videos of a flag lowering ceremony at Tiananmen Square on Monday.

Visitors use smartphones to take photographs and videos of a flag lowering ceremony at Tiananmen Square on Monday.Credit: Bloomberg

"China like a lion has woken up but it is a peaceful, friendly civilised lion," read one quote, attributed to the Politburo, which has been collectively studying "global governance" under Mr Xi.

Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College in London, says that in the past, foreign policy has taken up only 5 per cent of congress time.

Tourists and pedestrians walk past a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Tourists and pedestrians walk past a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.Credit: Bloomberg

"They were largely domestic issues until now. But thanks to the opportunity opened up by Trump, and Xi's assiduous work over the last few years on the foreign policy side, this will be the first global party congress," says Professor Brown.

"It's a recognition that only as a global actor can China become great even in itself. This congress is part of the search for validation."

Hong Kong Baptist University's head of government studies, Jean-Pierre Cabestan, says over the past five years Mr Xi has promoted China to the "top of the great power game, helped by the difficulties of the US".

Mr Xi has created a "new myth" that China is the best student of economic globalisation, and has been "very good" at positioning itself at the top of the fight against climate change, he said.

It has also been very active within United Nations peacekeeping operations - the theme of the Chinese blockbuster film, Wolf Warrior 2.

But China's rise to economic dominance has not been easy, said Professor Cabestan, as it "has seen a lot of push back from neighbours".

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There were domestic concerns that the Belt and Road Initiative, Mr Xi's signature foreign policy to create trade routes by offering billions of dollars for countries to invest in infrastructure, could be "too heavy handed and too visible" prompting pushback.

People's Daily said Mr Xi had made Chinese diplomacy more strategic and pro-active. It listed the disputed Diaoyu Islands, East China Sea and South China Sea as core issues where China had "clearly showed its standpoint ... and won major victory".

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