Li Qiang, Shanghai chief of China's ruling Communist Party, is likely to join the nation's top leadership to be launched this weekend following the end of a twice-a-decade key party congress, several Chinese sources familiar with the matter said Friday.
Hong Kong media have reported the 63-year-old close ally of leader Xi Jinping is a potential candidate to succeed Premier Li Keqiang, 67, who is set to retire next spring.
As the Shanghai party boss came under criticism earlier this year for overseeing a two-month coronavirus-precipitated lockdown of the city, during which residents struggled to access food and medical care, prospects for him to join the highest decision-making body had been thought to be dim.
The weeklong congress will conclude Saturday, with Xi, 69, set to further cement his power by securing an unprecedented third five-year term as party general secretary.
The party's Politburo Standing Committee, which now has seven members, is expected to undergo a major reshuffle.
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post said earlier this week as many as four top positions on the standing committee could change with Premier Li, who is in charge of steering economic policy, and Wang Yang, 67, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, likely retiring.
The new lineup could include Xi loyalists Ding Xuexiang, 60, who heads the general office of the party's Central Committee, Chen Min'er, 62, party secretary of the southwestern city of Chongqing, and Li Xi, 66, party secretary of Guangdong Province, according to the sources.
Whether Vice Premier Hu Chunhua, 59, who is believed to have fewer ties to Xi, will enter the top leadership has been drawing attention.
On the last day of the congress Saturday, about 200 members of the party's Central Committee will be selected. New members of the standing committee, picked as a result of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, will be unveiled at the first plenary session of the party's 20th Central Committee to be held the following day.
China's governing system is divided between the party and the state, but it is the party that holds the ultimate authority.
Related coverage:
Major reshuffle of China's top leadership likely to install Xi allies
China's Xi touts 10-yr achievements, renews resolve for Taiwan
Xi pitched his long-term rule to make China as strong as U.S.
