## Xi Jinping Charts a “New Era” for China, Asserting Unprecedented Power

President Xi Jinping’s opening address at the 20th Communist Party Congress signaled a clear message: China is on the rise, and he intends to lead the charge. The twice-per-decade event, a pivotal moment for the nation, served as a platform for Xi to highlight his achievements over the past five years and outline his ambitious vision for China’s future. But beyond the carefully crafted words, analysts suggest Xi is consolidating power in a way unseen in decades, potentially paving the way for an extended rule.

In a lengthy three-and-a-half-hour speech, punctuated by applause and music, Xi declared a “new era for China,” emphasizing the nation’s journey from decline to prosperity. According to PBS NewsHour, he laid out his plan to transform China into a “great modern socialist country” over the next three decades, acknowledging that achieving this “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be no walk in the park.” He called for “more arduous, strenuous efforts” from the entire party.

Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, notes that Xi’s vision for China’s role in the world is “much more ambitious than anything we have seen before,” with China “moving toward the center of the world and having a lot more influence than it did before.”

While Xi highlighted economic progress, he acknowledged challenges stemming from unbalanced development and weakened global demand. Notably, he largely avoided the topic of political reforms, as well as any direct mention of President Trump or North Korea’s nuclear program.

The relationship between China and the United States remains complex. While President Trump has previously praised his relationship with Xi, other U.S. officials have expressed concerns. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, for instance, has criticized China’s “aggressive displays of economic and military power,” particularly its expansion in the South China Sea. He vowed that the U.S. “will not shrink from China’s challenges to the rules-based order, and where China subverts the sovereignty of neighboring countries and disadvantages the U.S. and our friends.”

However, Shirk suggests that China’s global ambitions could also be positive, particularly as the United States has withdrawn from agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate accords, leaving a void that China has, in some ways, filled.

Looking ahead, a key question is who Xi will establish as his successor. “There is a lot of speculation now that he may be trying, much like Putin, to stay on beyond his normal term or to rule behind the scenes even after he retires,” says Shirk.

President Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing next month, providing an opportunity for further discussion and negotiation between the two global powers. The world will be watching closely to see how these dynamics unfold.