Xi Jinping gets historic third term as China's president

In a historic event, Chinese President Xi Jinping was awarded an unprecedented third five-year term as China's president. Xi was voted unanimously by the National People's Congress in an election with no opponent.

This would make the 69-year-old leader the most powerful leader to rule China in generations since Mao Zedong.

The 20th Communist Party Congress held in China last October made him the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), thereby establishing him as the most powerful leader.

Xi's stronghold over the party became clear as he did away with the presidential term limits in 2018 and the party Congress in October only reconfirmed his grip over the party.

He is now expected to fill top positions in the cabinet, which will see his close ally Li Qiang get selected as the new premier.

The parliament also elected Zhao Leji, 66, as the new parliament chair and Han Zheng, 68, as the new vice president. Both men were from Xi's previous team of party leaders at the Politburo Standing Committee.