India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will come under one roof for the first time since 2020 Galwan clashes for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet at Uzbekistan on 15-16 September.

SCO Summit: Indian PM Modi to share the forum with Chinese President Xi Jinping

For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin

The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled. With this Xi will cement his place as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

Xi will land in Kazakhstan first on Wednesday, and then will travel to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, where he will meet Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit.

The meeting between Xi and Putin was confirmed by the Russian president’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, last week.

But he declined to give further details on the content of the talks, while China has yet to confirm Xi's travel plans.

The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian states. Iran, one of Moscow's key allies in the Gulf, is next in line to get the membership.,

The meeting comes as both share tense relationships with the United States, which have further deteriorated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"It is all about Xi in my view: he wants to show just how confident he is domestically and to be seen as the international leader of nations opposed to Western hegemony," George Magnus, author of "Red Flags", a book about Xi's challenges, told Reuters.

"Privately I imagine Xi will be most anxious about how Putin's war is going and indeed if Putin or Russia are in play at some point in the near future because China still needs an anti-western leadership in Moscow," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled.

For the first time in two years since the outbreak of Covid, Chinese President Xi Jinping will step out of Beijing for Uzbekistan to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin The meeting comes a month ahead of the 20th Chinese Communist Party’s Congress next month in Beijing, where Xi Jinping is likely to secure a third term in office as president even as a revamped top leadership line-up is expected to be unveiled. With this Xi will cement his place as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Xi will land in Kazakhstan first on Wednesday, and then will travel to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, where he will meet Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit. The meeting between Xi and Putin was confirmed by the Russian president’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, last week. But he declined to give further details on the content of the talks, while China has yet to confirm Xi's travel plans. The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian states. Iran, one of Moscow's key allies in the Gulf, is next in line to get the membership., The meeting comes as both share tense relationships with the United States, which have further deteriorated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. "It is all about Xi in my view: he wants to show just how confident he is domestically and to be seen as the international leader of nations opposed to Western hegemony," George Magnus, author of "Red Flags", a book about Xi's challenges, told Reuters. "Privately I imagine Xi will be most anxious about how Putin's war is going and indeed if Putin or Russia are in play at some point in the near future because China still needs an anti-western leadership in Moscow," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

For first time since Covid outbreak, Xi Jinping to leave China, meet Putin

In the final episode of Inside Xi's China, The Great Game plan, the focus is on Xi Jinping's Legacy. It is at stake due to China's Economic Woes. Watch the Series Finale, 'Skating On Thin Ice' with Gaurie Dwivedi.

Series Finale | Inside Xi's China- The Great Game plan | Future of Xi Jinping

All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital&nbsp;Samarkand. The press secretary of Uzbekistan's President, Sherzod Asadov, in a Facebook post said that this will be the first in-person meeting of the SCO leaders since 2019 and will conclude the doubly landlocked central Asian country's chairmanship of the organization. In a picture he posted along with the message, he listed the names of all the eight leaders of the member states who will attend the summit in the country from September 15th to 16th.

The leaders include the host Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon. 
 
The grouping, which was formed in 2001, is one of the largest on the planet in terms of geographical size, population, and GDP. Sherzod in the statement said, "The following were at the core of Uzbekistan's chairmanship at SCO: - strengthening of economic ties and trade; promoting industrial and tech. cooperation; furthering broader connectivity; digital transformation and green economy; strengthening the international profile of SCO."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-disengagement-at-gogra-hotsprings-pp15-raise-hope-of-modi-xi-meet-at-sco-samarkand-summit-514177">Also read |&nbsp;India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit</a>

In all, 15 leaders will be attending the mega summit, including eight&nbsp;member countries, three&nbsp;observer countries, and four invited guests. The leaders of the observer countries include Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. 
 
The leaders who have been invited as guests at the summit are Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow.

The summit is happening at a time when&nbsp;global geopolitical changes, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Taiwan Strait crisis, and provides ample opportunities for the leaders to also hold bilateral talks. It is not known right now if PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks or not, but ahead of the summit, they announced the start of disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15, which is expected to be concluded by Monday, September 12th.

The ministry of external affairs said, "It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-stand-off period by both sides."

The development comes after the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17th. India and China have already undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot Springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. 
 
Ties between the two&nbsp;countries&nbsp;have nosedived since the 2020 Galwan incident, in which aggressive actions by Chinese forces led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency.

It is also not yet known if he will be meeting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and the likelihood also remains dim. The relationship between India and Pakistan remains in a deep freeze over Islamabad's support for cross-border terror. After New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Pakistan suspended people-to-people and trade ties with it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-envoy-adam-burakowski-says-india-can-convince-russia-to-stop-war-512299">Also read |&nbsp;Poland's envoy Adam Burakowski says India can convince Russia to stop war</a>

India is expected to raise issues like Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and trade at the summit, but a key outcome will be the handing over of the presidency of the group. Under its presidency, India will host the SCO summit next year, inviting all member countries, including the Pakistani and Chinese leadership. This year, the grouping also expanded to include Iran as its ninth&nbsp;member. The last major expansion of the grouping was in 2017 when both India and Pakistan became members.

Last week, Russian President Putin confirmed that he would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He told Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan." 
 
Li Zhanshu, the third highest ranking leader in the Chinese communist party, was in Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum.

It is important to know that this will be the first foreign visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping abroad since the COVID pandemic. He last visited abroad three&nbsp;years ago, which was a visit to Myanmar in January 2020.

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All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand.

All the eight leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, or SCO, will be attending the summit next week in person in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand. The press secretary of Uzbekistan's President, Sherzod Asadov, in a Facebook post said that this will be the first in-person meeting of the SCO leaders since 2019 and will conclude the doubly landlocked central Asian country's chairmanship of the organization. In a picture he posted along with the message, he listed the names of all the eight leaders of the member states who will attend the summit in the country from September 15th to 16th. The leaders include the host Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon. The grouping, which was formed in 2001, is one of the largest on the planet in terms of geographical size, population, and GDP. Sherzod in the statement said, "The following were at the core of Uzbekistan's chairmanship at SCO: - strengthening of economic ties and trade; promoting industrial and tech. cooperation; furthering broader connectivity; digital transformation and green economy; strengthening the international profile of SCO." Also read | India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit In all, 15 leaders will be attending the mega summit, including eight member countries, three observer countries, and four invited guests. The leaders of the observer countries include Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The leaders who have been invited as guests at the summit are Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow. The summit is happening at a time when global geopolitical changes, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Taiwan Strait crisis, and provides ample opportunities for the leaders to also hold bilateral talks. It is not known right now if PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks or not, but ahead of the summit, they announced the start of disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15, which is expected to be concluded by Monday, September 12th. The ministry of external affairs said, "It has been agreed that all temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides will be dismantled and mutually verified. The landforms in the area will be restored to the pre-stand-off period by both sides." The development comes after the 16th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17th. India and China have already undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot Springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. Ties between the two countries have nosedived since the 2020 Galwan incident, in which aggressive actions by Chinese forces led to the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. It is also not yet known if he will be meeting Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and the likelihood also remains dim. The relationship between India and Pakistan remains in a deep freeze over Islamabad's support for cross-border terror. After New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, Pakistan suspended people-to-people and trade ties with it. Also read | Poland's envoy Adam Burakowski says India can convince Russia to stop war India is expected to raise issues like Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, connectivity, and trade at the summit, but a key outcome will be the handing over of the presidency of the group. Under its presidency, India will host the SCO summit next year, inviting all member countries, including the Pakistani and Chinese leadership. This year, the grouping also expanded to include Iran as its ninth member. The last major expansion of the grouping was in 2017 when both India and Pakistan became members. Last week, Russian President Putin confirmed that he would hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He told Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan." Li Zhanshu, the third highest ranking leader in the Chinese communist party, was in Russia to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum. It is important to know that this will be the first foreign visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping abroad since the COVID pandemic. He last visited abroad three years ago, which was a visit to Myanmar in January 2020. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

PM Modi, Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi to attend SCO Samarkand summit: Uzbekistan

Indian and Chinese troops have started withdrawing from a major flashpoint in Eastern Ladakh. Why did Beijing decide to disengage now? Will this lead to a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Does Xi Jinping want a meeting with PM Modi?

In all possibility it will be a weakened Xi Jinping who will rule China after the 20th party congress meeting in October 2022. A collective leadership may take place of the present imperial rule. The kind of response that China's communist party had after Mao Zedong's death. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Xi Jinping’s legacy at stake | Promo

Excessive real estate crisis- which is the focus on house ownership in China, which stands at a whopping 90% is much higher than the average in developed countries where savings are routed to equity markets and debt instruments and not just pumped into the real estate sector. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Real Estate Crisis: Why realty matters in China? | Promo

It's not just about the economy, as Xi Jinping seeks greater control what he should be bracing for is more pushback both at home and abroad. China is perhaps one of the few countries that spends more on Policing its own people that on its national defence. Watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | Spending on policing citizens more than national defence

Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. In a brief joint statement, the two&nbsp;sides said, "Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas.". The development comes after 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on&nbsp;July 17.

The Shanghai cooperation organisation or SCO summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan&nbsp;incident. So far, no confirmation, if Indian, and Chinese leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand is given by New Delhi or Beijing.

The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of actual control in eastern Ladakh, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delayed, accepted that it lost 4 of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. India and China already have undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain.&nbsp;

Russian President Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting the Chinese President on the sidelines of the SCO summit. During his meeting with, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu on Wednesday, he said, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan". Li Zhanshu is the 3rd highest-ranking leader of the Chinese communist party and was in Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic forum. SCO is one of the largest groupings in the world and was formed in 2001. Its members are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the 4 central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

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Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

Ahead of the Samarkand Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO summit, India and China started disengagement on Thursday at Gogra-Hotsprings at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. In a brief joint statement, the two sides said, "Indian and Chinese troops in the area of Gogra-Hotsprings (PP-15) have begun to disengage in a coordinated and planned way, which is conducive to the peace and tranquillity in the border areas.". The development comes after 16th round of the India China Corps Commander Level Meeting that took place on July 17. The Shanghai cooperation organisation or SCO summit in Uzbekistan's cultural capital Samarkand will be the first time both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be under the same roof since the Galwan incident. So far, no confirmation, if Indian, and Chinese leaders will meet on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand is given by New Delhi or Beijing. The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of actual control in eastern Ladakh, which led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delayed, accepted that it lost 4 of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. India and China already have undertaken disengagement at finger areas of Pangong Lake (Feb 2021), Gogra Hot springs PP17, Galwan. But friction areas like Depsang and Demchok remain. Russian President Putin has confirmed that he will be meeting the Chinese President on the sidelines of the SCO summit. During his meeting with, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu on Wednesday, he said, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping soon, during the events related to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan". Li Zhanshu is the 3rd highest-ranking leader of the Chinese communist party and was in Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic forum. SCO is one of the largest groupings in the world and was formed in 2001. Its members are Russia, China, India, Pakistan and the 4 central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Watch WION's live TV here: ×

India, China disengagement at Gogra-Hotsprings PP15 raise hope of Modi-Xi meet at SCO Samarkand Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan next week. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since Ukraine's invasion. What will the two discuss? What should we expect? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping to meet Vladimir Putin next week

The CCP style of handling the Chinese economy through its growth on years has been that of choosing its preferred companies and providing them with a variety of benefits. To know more watch the series final episode of 'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | China's economic woes | Promo

'Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan' has been a one of a kind documentary that has demystified the intrigue that has traditionally enveloped China. Watch the series final episode on September 09, Saturday at 9:30 PM IST and 4 PM GMT.

Inside Xi's China- The Great Game Plan | From Mao to now | Promo

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday.&nbsp;

This will be the Chinese leader's first trip abroad since the start of the pandemic. "In less than 10 days our leaders will meet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit" in Samarkand, the Russian ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, told Russian agencies.&nbsp;

The meeting, which is expected to happen next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

This will also be Xi's first overseas trip since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which was first reported in China in December 2019.&nbsp;

Following a zero-Covid stance, China imposed strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the virus. It has significantly limited diplomatic travel for its top officials.&nbsp;

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin face-to-face "in less than 10 days" during a regional summit in Uzbekistan, a Russian diplomat said Wednesday. This will be the Chinese leader's first trip abroad since the start of the pandemic. "In less than 10 days our leaders will meet at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit" in Samarkand, the Russian ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, told Russian agencies. The meeting, which is expected to happen next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This will also be Xi's first overseas trip since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which was first reported in China in December 2019. Following a zero-Covid stance, China imposed strict Covid measures to curb the spread of the virus. It has significantly limited diplomatic travel for its top officials. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to meet in Uzbekistan next week: Report

Is Chinese President Xi Jinping eyeing ending his work-from-home strategy? The Chinese leader has not left mainland China since the pandemic began.

WFH to end for Xi Jinping? Is Xi planning his first trip since pandemic began?

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to venture out of the country on a trip to Kazakhstan next week. The announcement came from the Kazakh government's foreign ministry which stated that the visit will take place on September 14.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to venture out of the country on a trip to Kazakhstan next week. The announcement came from the Kazakh government's foreign ministry which stated that the visit will take place on September 14. Reportedly, Xi will meet Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the duo will hold bilateral talks aimed at deepening comprehensive strategic partnership and developing economic, cultural and trade cooperation. Following the trip to Kazakhstan, the Chinese leader is expected to visit Uzbekistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he might meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to experts, Xi's strategy of 'working-from-home', a direct consequence of his draconian 'zero-Covid' tolerance strategy was starting to have diplomatic consequences. It is pertinent to note that the last time Jinping stepped outside China was on a trip to the neighbouring country of Myanmar in January 2020, five days before his government locked down the city of Wuhan, the ground zero for the origin of coronavirus. Read more: China approves world's first inhaled COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use Moreover, Xi venturing into overseas pastures comes a month before the CCP holds a conference and grants him a precedent-busting third consecutive term in office. Xi is reportedly trying to send a message across the table that he is as active as he was prior to the pandemic. While 65 million Chinese citizens have been locked under tough COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the mid-autumn festival, the country’s second-most important holiday after the Lunar New Year, Chinese leaders are starting to catch flights abroad. As reported by WION, Li Zhanshu, no. 3 leader of China, is due to visit Russia next week. Li will embark on an official visit to Russia, Mongolia, Nepal, and South Korea from Wednesday until September 17, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Read more: China's number 3 leader Li Zhanshu to visit Russia next week (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Xi Jinping ends WFH: To step out of China for the first time since pandemic began

What to look for from China's 20th Communist Party Congress

“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future.

Then the speech disappeared from Chinese social media, giving way to speculations of a rift between Li and President Xi Jinping, as the latter is poised to retain his presidency for an unprecedented third term. The five-yearly Party Congress, set to open in Beijing on October 16, will also see Li stepping down from his post.

Li, who has a background in economics, had more or less disappeared from the state media headlines for months while Xi became the centre point of all policies, the chairman of everything.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-announces-agreement-for-29bn-sri-lanka-bailout-511949" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka and IMF reach staff-level agreement for $2.9 billion bailout loan</a>

Xi's crackdown on private businesses and push for a "shared prosperity" is driving China towards a socialist path after enjoying record-breaking growth as a freewheeling economy for the last four decades. This shift in direction and crackdown on big businesses naturally led to worries about China under Xi. So Li's speech added another dimension to the tea leaf reading by the analysts.

The goings on inside the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) always remained hazy and Beijing had projected a unified front before the world even when leaders faced headwinds.

Analysts and diplomats often had to resort to clues like state media headlines and public appearances of CCP leaders to gauge who is in favour and who is not. Going by that, it is hard to speculate Xi is facing any major challenge as he appeared in a total of 683 articles in the People’s Daily in July compared to a mere 32 featuring Li. Moreover, the news is also emerging that Xi is planning foreign visits later this year, signalling his confidence in his control over the party machinery.

So what to make of Li's pronouncements in Shenzhen? Some analysts say that his words and the act of paying respect to a statue of Deng Xiaoping are a signal to the country and the rest of the world that China will continue on its economic journey despite the recent crackdowns on high tech and real estate sectors.

But some see it as an admission by a weak premier that he failed to act as a counterweight to Xi in the party. "It is Li’s way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye," tweeted Adam Ni, who founded the widely followed China Neican newsletter.

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These are the actions/words of a man found wanting against greater forces, and trying to leave his mark on the public memory. It is Li's way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye...
— Adam Ni (@adam_ni) <a href="https://twitter.com/adam_ni/status/1560590612834816000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Still, it is foolhardy to think Xi has everything under control. His insistence on continuing the Zero Covid policy is throwing the supply chains into disarray while prolonged lockdowns are testing the patience of the people. The weeks-long lockdown in Shanghai recently saw frustration and anger surfacing on social media and the censors had to work overtime to remove comments targeted at the administration and CCP.

A report by a think tank on Sunday called for a change in Covid policies, but that was also taken off social media the next day. Currently, 28 cities are either completely or partially enforcing lockdown measures due to Covid outbreaks. There is no sign that Beijing is pondering changes to its Covid policies, but Chinese economists speculate lockdowns would gradually ease once the party congress is over.

Even more worrying for Beijing leaders would be the crisis in the real estate sector as people in more and more cities are now refusing to pay mortgage instalments for unfinished apartments adding to the woes of many cash-strapped builders. This could snowball into a much wider economic problem as many provinces have banked on land sales to fund government projects.

None of this is going to pave way for a coup and when the party congress opens in Beijing, the well-oiled party machinery will display the same old charade of leaders hailing the leadership and dishing out patriotic speeches about the country’s advance under the CCP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-city-chengdu-announces-mass-covid-19-testing-amid-rising-cases-511959">Chinese city Chengdu announces mass COVID-19 testing amid rising cases</a>

“Don’t read the latest gossip about Li challenging Xi as anything more than gossip. Xi almost certainly will continue on to a third term, making history as the most powerful Chinese leader in generations,” wrote Dexter Tiff Roberts, who had spent more than two decades in China as a Bloomberg correspondent and is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative.

CCP hates surprises and it is unlikely that even in the face of severe challenges they will have a sudden leadership change. The party has set aside term limits for the presidential post and declared Xi Jinping Thoughts as its guiding light. It is unlikely anything will change this immediately.

In a deep dive into the machinations that led to the rise of Xi, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Christopher Johnson, argues that CCP wanted a strong leader like him to take charge and shore up the party as the opening up under Deng Xiaoping had threatened the party’s grip on power while factions linked to former President Jiang Zemin played their own games.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future.

“China’s opening will continue. The Yellow River and the Yangtze River will not flow backwards." When Chinese premier Li Keqiang made this declaration during a visit to Shenzhen recently, it immediately set tongues wagging about the country's future. Then the speech disappeared from Chinese social media, giving way to speculations of a rift between Li and President Xi Jinping, as the latter is poised to retain his presidency for an unprecedented third term. The five-yearly Party Congress, set to open in Beijing on October 16, will also see Li stepping down from his post. Li, who has a background in economics, had more or less disappeared from the state media headlines for months while Xi became the centre point of all policies, the chairman of everything. Also read | Sri Lanka and IMF reach staff-level agreement for $2.9 billion bailout loan Xi's crackdown on private businesses and push for a "shared prosperity" is driving China towards a socialist path after enjoying record-breaking growth as a freewheeling economy for the last four decades. This shift in direction and crackdown on big businesses naturally led to worries about China under Xi. So Li's speech added another dimension to the tea leaf reading by the analysts. The goings on inside the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) always remained hazy and Beijing had projected a unified front before the world even when leaders faced headwinds. Analysts and diplomats often had to resort to clues like state media headlines and public appearances of CCP leaders to gauge who is in favour and who is not. Going by that, it is hard to speculate Xi is facing any major challenge as he appeared in a total of 683 articles in the People’s Daily in July compared to a mere 32 featuring Li. Moreover, the news is also emerging that Xi is planning foreign visits later this year, signalling his confidence in his control over the party machinery. So what to make of Li's pronouncements in Shenzhen? Some analysts say that his words and the act of paying respect to a statue of Deng Xiaoping are a signal to the country and the rest of the world that China will continue on its economic journey despite the recent crackdowns on high tech and real estate sectors. But some see it as an admission by a weak premier that he failed to act as a counterweight to Xi in the party. "It is Li’s way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye," tweeted Adam Ni, who founded the widely followed China Neican newsletter. These are the actions/words of a man found wanting against greater forces, and trying to leave his mark on the public memory. It is Li's way of saying that he tried but failed, and this is goodbye... — Adam Ni (@adam_ni) August 19, 2022 × Still, it is foolhardy to think Xi has everything under control. His insistence on continuing the Zero Covid policy is throwing the supply chains into disarray while prolonged lockdowns are testing the patience of the people. The weeks-long lockdown in Shanghai recently saw frustration and anger surfacing on social media and the censors had to work overtime to remove comments targeted at the administration and CCP. A report by a think tank on Sunday called for a change in Covid policies, but that was also taken off social media the next day. Currently, 28 cities are either completely or partially enforcing lockdown measures due to Covid outbreaks. There is no sign that Beijing is pondering changes to its Covid policies, but Chinese economists speculate lockdowns would gradually ease once the party congress is over. Even more worrying for Beijing leaders would be the crisis in the real estate sector as people in more and more cities are now refusing to pay mortgage instalments for unfinished apartments adding to the woes of many cash-strapped builders. This could snowball into a much wider economic problem as many provinces have banked on land sales to fund government projects. None of this is going to pave way for a coup and when the party congress opens in Beijing, the well-oiled party machinery will display the same old charade of leaders hailing the leadership and dishing out patriotic speeches about the country’s advance under the CCP. Also read | Chinese city Chengdu announces mass COVID-19 testing amid rising cases “Don’t read the latest gossip about Li challenging Xi as anything more than gossip. Xi almost certainly will continue on to a third term, making history as the most powerful Chinese leader in generations,” wrote Dexter Tiff Roberts, who had spent more than two decades in China as a Bloomberg correspondent and is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Asia Security Initiative. CCP hates surprises and it is unlikely that even in the face of severe challenges they will have a sudden leadership change. The party has set aside term limits for the presidential post and declared Xi Jinping Thoughts as its guiding light. It is unlikely anything will change this immediately. In a deep dive into the machinations that led to the rise of Xi, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Christopher Johnson, argues that CCP wanted a strong leader like him to take charge and shore up the party as the opening up under Deng Xiaoping had threatened the party’s grip on power while factions linked to former President Jiang Zemin played their own games. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Li comments unlikely to dent Xi juggernaut

Xi Jinping will secure a third term this year. But the Chinese President could be facing dissent from within. A report claims that 3 "party elders" have written an open letter. They have allegedly criticized the "unlimited power" of the party. Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping criticised by Communist Party 'elders'

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy.

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the Chinese authorities on Monday announced the closing of the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. The closure follows President Xi Jinping's highly criticised 'zero-Covid tolerance' policy. Reportedly, the market was closed after authorities observed nine symptomatic and two asymptomatic cases from testing conducted the previous day. Accordingly, the market will remain closed till Thursday and workers are expected to work from home and get routinely tested. Moreover, big tech companies such as Huawei, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Foxconn Technology Group have been advised by the authorities to restrict the movement of their employees. Read more: Chinese are selling their Rolex watches & Hermes bags to raise quick cash as economy tumbles The effect of the closure of cities The Covid cases have been spiralling out of control in China despite the majority of the populace being inoculated. Government estimates stated that the cases could touch the peak of 20,000 next month. As reported extensively by WION, China's 'zero-Covid tolerance' strategy has been one of the primary reasons why it has lagged in economic recovery. For months, the tough lockdown measures imposed by the Communist Party of China (CCP) led to a dip in manufacturing as factories and offices remain closed for prolonged periods. The direct consequence of the closure has been on the economy which only grew by a tiny 0.4 per cent in the quarter gone by. Such has been the condition that Politburo has given up on the 5.5 per cent economic growth rate forecast by the year-end. Shenzhen and its history It is pertinent to note that Shenzhen was one of the first four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to be established in China. It is also the birthplace of global mobile giant Huawei. The Huaqiangbei district invites the attention of tourists and technology aficionados who flock to the numerous stalls in the area to procure electronic goods. Read More: China's economic growth drops to 0.4 per cent amid draconian lockdown measures and severe heatwave Historically, Shenzhen was a fishing market. However, after Chinese President Deng Xiaoping took the centre stage, the fortunes of the city changed. The establishment of Huawei in 1987 by rem Zhengfei was the turning point and since then, the city has grown immensely, referred to as the 'Shenzhen speed'. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amid a spike in Covid cases, China closes world's largest electronic market in Shenzhen

While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific&nbsp;visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance.

Snippets of the speech released by the Chinese state media showed that Xi batted on the front foot and explicitly asked his party workers to expand China's strength.

"We must strengthen the building of overseas patriotic forces, cultivate and expand the strength of those who know China and are willing to befriend China, and promote exchanges and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign cultures and civilisations,” said Xi.&nbsp;

The Chinese President further heaped praise on his United Front army and illustrated its importance.&nbsp;

<blockquote>
"The United Front is becoming more important in safeguarding [China’s] national sovereignty, security and development interests.&nbsp;In building an all-round modern socialist country and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the role of the United Front … is even more important.”
</blockquote>

In the past, the United Front has been described by&nbsp;Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. This year marks the 100th anniversary of China's United Front.&nbsp;

Why is Xi taking such an aggressive stance?

As reported extensively by WION, last week, Xi&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;to US President Joe Biden and in clear and concise terms made it clear that Taiwan was an integral part of China.&nbsp;

Soon, the White House toed Xi's line by releasing a statement,&nbsp;"On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Read More:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/those-who-play-with-fire-will-perish-by-it-xi-jinping-warns-joe-biden-on-taiwan-501562">&nbsp;'Those who play with fire will perish by it': Xi Jinping warns Joe Biden over Taiwan</a>

Moreover, Nancy Pelosi released an official statement where her trip to Taiwan was unconfirmed. Pelosi's office&nbsp;said: "The trip will focus on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region" without mentioning Taiwan.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance.

While US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan during her Asia-Pacific visit remains uncertain, Chinese President Xi Jinping has upped the ante. Addressing the United Work Front Department on Saturday, Xi urged the Communist Party and its members to encourage and cultivate 'patriotic forces' as well as supporters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other overseas states where China wants to assert its dominance. Snippets of the speech released by the Chinese state media showed that Xi batted on the front foot and explicitly asked his party workers to expand China's strength. "We must strengthen the building of overseas patriotic forces, cultivate and expand the strength of those who know China and are willing to befriend China, and promote exchanges and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign cultures and civilisations,” said Xi. The Chinese President further heaped praise on his United Front army and illustrated its importance. "The United Front is becoming more important in safeguarding [China’s] national sovereignty, security and development interests. In building an all-round modern socialist country and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the role of the United Front … is even more important.” In the past, the United Front has been described by Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. This year marks the 100th anniversary of China's United Front. Why is Xi taking such an aggressive stance? As reported extensively by WION, last week, Xi spoke to US President Joe Biden and in clear and concise terms made it clear that Taiwan was an integral part of China. Soon, the White House toed Xi's line by releasing a statement, "On Taiwan, President Biden underscored that the United States policy has not changed and that the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Read More: 'Those who play with fire will perish by it': Xi Jinping warns Joe Biden over Taiwan Moreover, Nancy Pelosi released an official statement where her trip to Taiwan was unconfirmed. Pelosi's office said: "The trip will focus on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance in the Indo-Pacific region" without mentioning Taiwan. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Xi urges his United Front army to step up operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong, other countries

White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan. However, the US President, in response, said that he ‘could not oblige’ and that it was the speaker’s own choice to decide on her overseas visits as the US Congress is an independent government branch, The Washington Post reported.

Additionally, Biden also warned his counterpart against using provocative and coercive tactics during Pelosi’s visit. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "Members of Congress have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so. Speaker Pelosi had every right to go, and her visit is consistent with our long-standing One-China policy," the newspaper quoted. However, since 1997, no US House Speaker had&nbsp;visited Taiwan until Pelosi at the beginning of August this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-slams-us-over-pelosis-taiwan-visit-accuses-it-of-trying-to-prolong-the-ukraine-war-507390">Putin slams US over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, accuses it of trying to prolong the Ukraine war</a>

China denounced Pelosi’s visit and began its extensive military drills close to the island. Beijing also opposes official interactions between Taiwan and any other country because the island is considered an integral part of its territory. It further stated that the "One China" principle is a political pillar of China-US relations and that breaking these commitments can harm bilateral cooperation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sanctions-seven-taiwanese-officials-for-supporting-the-islands-independence-507265">China sanctions seven Taiwanese officials for supporting the island's independence</a>

In conversation with CNN, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said, "We do not believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over the visit -- the peaceful visit -- of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan... it was a manufactured crisis by the government in Beijing. It was an overreaction," ANI reported.

The ambassador said, "Incumbent upon the government here in Beijing to convince the rest of the world that it will act peacefully in the future." He added, "I think there's a lot of concern around the world that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that's not in anyone's interest," ANI reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan.

White House officials recently cited that Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden last month, has asked to prevent Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, from visiting Taiwan. However, the US President, in response, said that he ‘could not oblige’ and that it was the speaker’s own choice to decide on her overseas visits as the US Congress is an independent government branch, The Washington Post reported. Additionally, Biden also warned his counterpart against using provocative and coercive tactics during Pelosi’s visit. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "Members of Congress have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so. Speaker Pelosi had every right to go, and her visit is consistent with our long-standing One-China policy," the newspaper quoted. However, since 1997, no US House Speaker had visited Taiwan until Pelosi at the beginning of August this year. Also read | Putin slams US over Pelosi's Taiwan visit, accuses it of trying to prolong the Ukraine war China denounced Pelosi’s visit and began its extensive military drills close to the island. Beijing also opposes official interactions between Taiwan and any other country because the island is considered an integral part of its territory. It further stated that the "One China" principle is a political pillar of China-US relations and that breaking these commitments can harm bilateral cooperation. Also read | China sanctions seven Taiwanese officials for supporting the island's independence In conversation with CNN, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said, "We do not believe there should be a crisis in US-China relations over the visit -- the peaceful visit -- of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan... it was a manufactured crisis by the government in Beijing. It was an overreaction," ANI reported. The ambassador said, "Incumbent upon the government here in Beijing to convince the rest of the world that it will act peacefully in the future." He added, "I think there's a lot of concern around the world that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and that's not in anyone's interest," ANI reported. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

In phone call, Chinese President Xi Jinping asked US President Joe Biden to stop Pelosi's visit to Taiwan

This week on Inside Xi’s China, The Great Gameplan the focus is on China's economic warfare. As a Chinese vessel docked in Sri Lanka, the show puts the spotlight on Communist Party of China's economic means to hegemonize the world. WION's Gaurie Dwivedi explains China’s Long Game where its economic muscle is meant to fulfil Xi Jinping’s geo-political goals.

Episode 6 | Inside Xi's China- The Great Game plan |  China's economic warfare | WION News

Xi Jinping is starting his march to a third term in China, facing problems at home and abroad. Molly Gambhir tells you how problems are piling up for the Chinese President.

WION Fineprint: Xi Jinping's solution is China's problem

It was last year this month that the Xi Jinping government in China started a crackdown on the gaming industry by describing video games as ‘spiritual opium’. A year on and China's biggest technology giant, Tencent Holdings is mulling venturing overseas.

It was last year this month that the Xi Jinping government in China started a crackdown on the gaming industry by describing video games as ‘spiritual opium’. A year on and China's biggest technology giant, Tencent Holdings is mulling venturing overseas. Reportedly, during the Tencent Game Developers Conference that started on Sunday this week, the Shenzhen-based company highlighted the opportunities that lay outside mainland China, both for its in-house IPs and products developed by other Chinese developers. Xia Lin, vice-president of Tencent Games stated that the Chinese games had a vast growth potential in markets like Southeast Asia, West Asia as well as Latin America. Lin further added that the 'sheer' number of users and game downloads from the aforementioned regions had dwarfed the demand of the Chinese market. Tencent's overseas revenue has grown by four per cent to $1.56 billion in the first quarter of the year. Meanwhile, the revenue on the domestic front fell by one per cent. Moreover, owing to the gaming restrictions, the Chinese regulators are yet to secure a single licence to develop and publish new games. Earlier this month, 69 video game licenses were distributed but not a single one went Tencent's way. Xi Jinping's crusade to neuter the tech sector As reported extensively by WION, last year, Xi Jinping, on his crusade to teach the tech sector a lesson, went after nearly every big company. While Alibaba's Jack Ma mysteriously disappeared from the public eye for several weeks and the company's IPO tanked, Tencent and its fortunes were tied in a cul-de-sac as the CCP came riding with its restrictive laws. Read More: Three hours a week: China's new rules for children playing video games Reportedly, under the restrictions, anyone under 18 years old can only play video games three hours a week, or one hour per day at 8 PM on Fridays through Sundays, that is, the weeknights. The restrictions came into force in September 2021 and since then, they have remained in effect. According to the Game Publishing Committee of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, the total number of gamers in China fell for the first time since 2015 to 665.69 million from 665.57 million. Meanwhile, the industry’s revenue dropped 1.8 per cent to $21.9 billion in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The numbers may not look astronomical but the fact that China's once booming gaming industry is showing signs of a slowdown has given Tencent, the world's largest video gaming business by revenue, a reason enough to pivot overseas. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Troubled by crackdown on gaming industry, Tencent mulls venturing overseas

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