Chinese president's former secretary gets top Shanghai job

Published October 29, 2017
Jiangsu Communist Party Secretary Li Qiang attends a discussion group meeting held on the sidelines of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. ─ AP
Jiangsu Communist Party Secretary Li Qiang attends a discussion group meeting held on the sidelines of China's 19th Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. ─ AP

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted an ally to the top job in Shanghai, media reported Sunday.

The elevation of Li Qiang is another sign of Xi's increasing control over China.

Xi has amassed more personal power and propaganda backing than any leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s, breaking with two decades of shared authority among a group of senior party figures.

Part of his power accumulation efforts include promoting allies from Zhejiang province, which is near Shanghai and where Xi once led the Communist Party, to senior party, government and army posts.

Li, 58, worked under Xi when Xi was party chief in Zhejiang from 2003-2007.

Seen as a proponent of economic reforms, Li will likely champion Xi's vision for Shanghai as a global trading hub.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday that Li replaces Han Zheng, who was elevated to the party's top decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee.

Under Xi's leadership, the Communist Party has become increasingly assertive in promoting its own vision for how to regulate global finance, technology, news media and other matters.

Outside monitoring groups say China strictly controls freedom of expression and abuses human rights.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.