Who Are China's New Leaders? 7 Men Who'll Lead in Xi's Third Term

For the third time in little over a decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping led a procession of Communist Party officials onto the red carpet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, revealing who will lead the world’s most populous country for the next five years.

The newly appointed members of the Politburo’s supreme Standing Committee walked out in order of rank at the end of the party’s twice-a-decade reshuffle Sunday, confirming Xi’s decision to keep power for a precedent-breaking third term. The lineup announced after the party’s 20th congress further demonstrates Xi’s unquestioned grip over the ruling party, with most of the members having careers that overlapped with that of the 69-year-old leader.

Xi Jinping’s ability to secure a third term shows he’s no longer first among equals on the Standing Committee, but a power unto himself. Staying in power required him to scrap the de facto retirement age of 68, underscoring the party’s willingness to bind its future to the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Xi opened the party congress with a defiant speech pledging to pursue his plan to restore China’s place among the great powers. His changes to party’s political structure -- and the lack of a clear heir -- position him to rule China for years to come.

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