Chinas political chessboard the 20th party congress

In October, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will assemble to appoint new leaders and discuss political, social, economic and foreign policy priorities for the coming 2022–2027 period and beyond.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting of China’s political class is the future of current President Xi Jinping. Technically at the end of his second 5-year term, Xi was due to step down this year. The next generation of leadership was supposed to step in, as the next stage of the Party’s evolution takes place. However, this is unlikely to happen.

The president has consolidated his power, manoeuvring allies into key positions and developing a faction of support in the Party. With 'Xi Jinping Thought' added to the Party charter and China’s constitution and term limits removed, Xi shows no intention of stepping down. Who will determine the direction of the country?

However, the president is not all-powerful. Critics and alternative factions operate within the party. His second term has also had to contend with the botched early handling of the pandemic, worsening ties with the US and a slowing economy. In an increasingly unpredictable world, events in the 2022 Party Congress will be hugely impactful for China’s and global affairs. What trajectory will Beijing take?

Key questions the panel discuss include:

How does the Party Congress function and what does it mean for domestic Chinese politics?

Will President Xi’s political and economic legacies continue under new political leaders and policymakers?

What does President Xi’s next role in China’s government tell us about his power?

As the 20th CCP Party Congress takes place, is there unity and cohesion at the top of the political structure?

Will the Party Congress have any impact on China’s international relations? Particularly the US?

 As with all Chatham House member events, questions from members drive the conversation.