China's Xi lays way for third term in power at party meeting

China's leader Xi Jinping appears to be laying the foundation for a third term in power as top officials from the all-powerful Communist Party meet in Beijing this week

BEIJING -- China's leader Xi Jinping appears to be laying the foundation for a third term in power as top officials of the all-powerful Communist Party meet this week in Beijing.

The official Xinhua News Agency said president and party General Secretary Xi issued a draft resolution on the party’s “major achievements and historical experience” at the Central Committee’s plenary session that opened on Monday.

Scholars say that will mark the party’s third major statement on its 100-year history, shoring up Xi’s status as an equal to founder of the Chinese People’s Republic Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping, who oversaw crucial economic reforms.

China removed term limits on the presidency in 2018, potentially keeping Xi at the apex of power for the rest of his life. He is expected to be reappointed party leader through a highly opaque process at next year's full party congress, an event held every five years.