Does Xi Jinping ‘fit the bill’ as China’s next Mao

China needs a strong leader like Mao Zedong and President Xi Jinping “fits the bill”, an official publication of the ruling Communist Party said on the eve of a key meeting of the party, speculated to amend the decades-old rule stipulating collective leadership to bolster Mr Xi’s position.

The four-day meeting of the plenum of Communist Party of China (CPC) kicks off China’s political season which will culminate in changes at the top leaders except Mr Xi and Premier Li Keqiang in the autumn of 2017 when the party convenes its 19th Congress during which a new Politburo Standing Committee will be appointed.

Mr Xi, 63, currently heads a seven member Standing Committee of the CPC which virtually rules China.

Since he took over the leadership in November 2012, Mr Xi has emerged as the most powerful leader of China in recent times starting his ten year tenure as head of the Party and powerful military, besides the Presidency.

While the Standing Committee in the past represented collective leadership principle enunciated over three decades ago, critics say Mr Xi’s emergence as a powerful leader has overshadowed other six members of the Committee including Mr Li.

Ahead of Monday’s meeting, the Peoples’ Tribune, which is affiliated with party’s official organ People’s Daily said, “China needs a leader like Mao and Xi fits the bill.”