‘Xi Jinping thought’: China’s leader given own political theory in power show on par with Mao

The Chinese president is set to have his own ideology enshrined in the Communist Party constitution, elevating him to the same political league as Mao Tze-tung, according to reports in China. 

The introduction of “Xi jinping Thought”  into the constitution would further strengthen his power. Alongside Mao, Deng Xiaoping, who retired in 1989, is the only other leader to have received the honour. 

Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin also had their own ideologies incorporated in the constitution. But unlike Mao and Deng their names were not included.

Speculation was rife ahead of the congress that the 64-year-old strongman may seek to break with precedent and extend his rule beyond two five-year terms.

Chinese news agency Xinhua said the party had “created Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”

Zhang Dejiang, a member of the elite seven-member Politburo Standing Committee described "The Thought" as "a historic contribution to the Party's development.”

Other Chinese leaders were also lauding Xi’s "Thought" on Thursday, the day after he opened the Communist Party’s twice-a-decade congress with a marathon three-and-a-half hour speech.

Bill Bishop, a China expert who runs the influential Sinocism newsletter, said senior officials using the formulation suggests the slogan would enter the party constitution as an ideology.

“That to me seems like a pretty clear signal this will end up in the party constitution as an eponymous guiding ideology,” he said. “Such a development, after only one term...would be a significant break from the norms of the reform era.”

The party gave Xi the title of "core" leader a year ago, a strengthening of his position ahead of the congress.