China’s congress ending with unity behind Xi’s vision for national greatness

China’s national congress is concluding its yearly meeting on Monday with the customary display of almost uniform support for policies intended to implement head of the governing Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping’s, vision for the country.

The week-long event this year, complete with meticulously planned meetings that prevented any shocks, demonstrated how China’s politics have grown more and more geared towards elevating Xi.

The premier’s customary last press conference, which is the one occasion a year when media may grill a senior leader and was previously in charge of economic matters as the party’s second leader, is not on Monday’s schedule.

Since 1988, the yearly press conferences have taken place in most years; the decision to discontinue the event highlights Li Qiang’s relative weakness. Past premiers have had a considerably stronger role in driving critical economic policies such as modernising state companies, dealing with economic crises, and implementing housing reforms that converted China into a homeownership nation.

A key item due to be put for a ritual vote on Monday are revisions of the “Organic Law of the State Council,” China’s version of a cabinet, that direct it to follow Xi’s vision.