China agrees to hold its five yearly congress in October 16th

China's ruling Communist Party agreed to begin its five-yearly congress on October 16th, and it will last approximately a week, as it typically does. The congress will take place behind the doors of the Great Hall of the People, on the Western side of the Tianamen Square in central Beijing. At the Congress the President of China Xi Xinping is probably going to cement his historic place - being at his third leadership term, he is the country's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Especially his third term is hard, as he is facing tensions with the West over Taiwan and battling the Covid-19 pandemic. China has played a far more important role in the global stage since post World War Two. Xi could stay in power longer, having eliminated the limit of a two term presidency in 2018. The Congress shall also decide who will take over the position of Premier Li Kequiang, who will retire in March.

After the Congress, the world will closely watch China's next moves, following the economic downturn due to the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic. China's zero Covid policy has clearly frustrated citizens. The next problems are the tensions over Taiwan, which Beijing desires to control.