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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says he will retire this year
The premier is the second ranking leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) after President Xi Jinping
Premier Li Keqiang on Friday said he would step down from his post at the end of his current term, a rare public announcement by a Chinese leader that’s likely to trigger speculation about the upcoming political reshuffle among the ruling Communist Party of China’s (CPC) elites as it prepares for the twice-a-decade national congress later this year.
President Xi Jinping - the CPC general secretary and armed forces’ head - is expected to continue for a unprecedented third-term as China’s top leader at the Congress because the presidential term limit was removed in 2018.
Answering a question at Friday’s presser on the government’s achievements in the last decade, Li said, “You said this year is the last year in the current term of the Chinese government. This year is also the last year in my premiership.”
The new premier will be unveiled next March.
Li announced his decision at his annual – and as it turns out, his final – press conference as premier on Friday, held after the closing of China’s rubber stamp legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC).
Li is No. 2 in the hierarchy of the CPC’s seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, after Xi; he is also second in the government hierarchy as premier and the head of China’s cabinet, the state council, and heads ministries.
Li has been premier since 2013 and his term is constitutionally limited to two terms.
A Bloomberg report pointed out that Li, 66, is young enough to retain his position in the Politburo’s Standing Committee – the top decision-making group in the CPC, headed by Xi -- even if he steps down from the premier’s job.
“Until Li’s promotion in 2012, the No. 2 party position was held by then-NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo while the No. 3 position was occupied by then-Premier Wen Jiabao,” the Bloomberg report said.
Li’s announcement on Friday about giving up his position, while in line with CPC tradition in the last few decades is noteworthy in contrast to Xi’s likely decision to defy the tradition and continue holding multiple positions in the upcoming congress.
A new generation of CPC leaders are expected to be unveiled at the congress.
Whether Li will hold on to his Standing Committee spot and, if so, who else will join him will be part of much speculation in the coming months as the secretive CPC moves into reshuffle mode.
‘Grave’ Ukraine situation
Li, who largely oversees China’s economic affairs touched upon wide ranging topics on Friday, including Ukraine, saying the situation in the country was “grave”.
“We support and encourage all efforts that are conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. The pressing task now is to prevent tension from escalating or even getting out of control,” Li said.
Li reiterated China’s opposition to economic sanctions against Russia because they would “hurt the world economic recovery,” which has already taken a huge hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is in no one’s interest. China is ready to make its own constructive efforts in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity,” Li said.
On the economy, Li said China aims to create 11 million — or preferably 13 million — urban jobs in 2022.
The Chinese Premier local business leaders he talked with support tax cuts as the quickest way to generate jobs instead of government-led investment or handing out vouchers to households to boost consumer spending.
Li warned global conditions were “very challenging” after saying that meeting Beijing’s growth target of 5.5% will require “arduous efforts”.
Li earlier announced plans to inject money into the economy through higher spending on public works but said Beijing wants to restrain its budget deficit.
