BEIJING: President Xi Jinping declared China is entering a “new era” of challenges and opportunities on Wednesday as he opened a Communist Party congress expected to enhance his already formidable power. “Every one of us in the party must do more to uphold party leadership and the Chinese socialist system and resolutely oppose all statements and actions that undermine, distort or negate them,” he said. Potential rivals have been swept aside under Xi’s vast anti-corruption drive, which punished 1.3 million Communist Party officials over five years. But a Xi heir apparent could emerge from the congress. One former potential successor who was outside Xi’s circle, Sun Zhengcai, was ousted from the party last month due to graft allegations.

Source: New Strait Times October 18, 2017 06:45 UTC