<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Xi Jinping is set to deepen his control of China's government and economy, as lawmakers meet this week in Beijing to pass far-reaching reforms.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The National People's Congress (NPC), a rubber-stamp parliament, will confirm Mr Xi's third term as president, and the appointments of his top team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They will also name a new premier, the second-in-command after Mr Xi, as the incumbent Li Keqiang departs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Two Sessions, as the meetings are known, are an annual affair.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But this year's sessions are particularly significant as delegates are expected to reshape several key Communist Party and state institutions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They will also tighten control over bodies overseeing the finance sector and scientific and technology work, while "strengthening party-building work" in private businesses, according to state media.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The moves will likely further blur the lines between the Chinese Communist Party and the government, and consolidate the party's control of the private sector.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This comes amid an ongoing corruption crackdown which has seen a string of high-profile businessmen disappear in recent years. The latest person to go missing was one of China's top dealmakers in the tech sector.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week's NPC meeting will also formalise Mr Xi's leadership of the country, as he will be elected president of China and head of the armed forces.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He secured his position in the echelons of Chinese power in October last year, when the Communist Party re-elected him as their leader for a third term.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was a break from decades-long tradition, as no other party leader besides Communist China's first leader, Mao Zedong, will have served for this long. In the 2018 NPC meeting, lawmakers had approved the removal of term limits on the presidency, effectively allowing Mr Xi to remain leader for life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Xi's appointment comes as he faces domestic pressure to turn around an economy battered by his zero-Covid strategy and crackdowns in various business sectors.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Abroad, he is navigating worsening ties with the US over the Ukraine war and the recent spy balloon saga, even as he warms his embrace of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The NPC will also unveil the new Premier, China's equivalent of a prime minister who traditionally oversees the economy and administrative aspects of governance.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Li Qiang, one of Mr Xi's most trusted colleagues, is expected to assume the role. As the Shanghai party secretary, he oversaw a prolonged and painful Covid lockdown that angered locals and made international headlines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Outgoing premier Li Keqiang, who was ousted in the leadership reshuffle at October's party congress, will deliver his last work report speech.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The political appointments for the rest of the Politburo Standing Committee, the equivalent of Mr Xi's cabinet, will also be announced.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many will be watching to see who fills several key positions, such as the commerce minister, head of the national development and reform commission, propaganda chief, and head of state security.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Observers say the team was picked more for their loyalty to Mr Xi and the party, rather than for their expertise. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>