Chinese President Xi immediately opened the five-year Chinese Communist Party Congress in Beijing with a warning: “Prepare for danger,” he said. “Be prepared for rainy days, be prepared for strong winds and big waves.”

His country is facing major economic problems, including ongoing lockdown measures and travel restrictions. “This is a great test in stormy seas,” Xi said of the years to come.

To the sounds of the welcome march and supported by the applause of nearly 2,300 clapping party delegates, party leader Xi Jinping entered the Great Hall of the People around 10 a.m. (local time). Banners on the balustrade made no mistake about who’s in charge in this China. “Xi’s ideas for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era must be fully implemented,” it said.

Five years ago, at the 19th Party Congress, Xi took almost 3.5 hours to speak. He didn’t need this time now, knowing full well that his unusual re-election as party chairman is only a matter of form. The theme of this congress is “A New Journey”, but as expected there were no major changes in course.

With a third term beckoning, this convention can leave Xi running almost on autopilot.

Xi, 69, has been Secretary General of China since 2012 and President of China since 2013. Who is Xi Jinping, how did he become so powerful and what does he want with China? Watch the video:

Above all, Xi Jinping’s speech was one of those rare moments to get a glimpse of the plans the leader has for the country. At a conference that is officially more closed than previous editions due to restrictive corona measures. A select number of foreign journalists were admitted to the Great Hall of the People, NOS was not among them.

Taiwan

Xi’s speech paid attention to Taiwan, which Xi wants to bring back under the wing of the motherland, according to Beijing. “It is up to the Chinese to decide their own affairs,” Xi said, going no further than previous statements. “We urge peaceful reunification, but we never renounce violence,” he warned.

He did not add a timetable to this reunification, an annexation of Taiwan. The Great Resurrection of the Chinese Nation, party jargon for a powerful China united with Taiwan, should be a fact in 2049. “The historic wheels of national reunification and great resurrection roll forward, in them the motherland is fully united,” Xi said. It must and will be done, he said, prompting delegates to clapping their hands for half a minute. It was one of the longer rounds of applause.

Xi repeated earlier words on Hong Kong, where a state security law two years ago put an end to relative freedom in the city. The city should be ruled by patriots, he said: “One country, two systems is the formula to resolve deep-seated contradictions and problems, and ensure long-term prosperity and stability.”

People’s war against Corona

He did not include in his speech Xinjiang, the region where China may be committing crimes against humanity, according to the United Nations. A delegate from the region – Zuliyati Simayi – told Chinese state media ahead of the opening ceremony that Xinjiang had been brought back from “a remote province” to the “frontline of openness”. Simayi said he should tell the stories of “real Xinjiang.” Tibet also did not appear in the speech.

Xi continued to use his speech to defend his strict zero-Covid policy. “The people’s war against the virus is being waged to protect public health,” Xi said, citing what was previously resonated in state media such as People’s Daily.