World News | Xi Jinping urges China to advance technological self-reliance, Taiwan reunification

Beijing [China]March 15 (ANI): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on the country to speed up the country’s self-reliance in technology and innovation-driven development and vowed to “unswervingly advance the reunification process” with democratically ruled Taiwan, Nikkei Asia reported.

Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the closing session of the National People’s Congress, giving him an unprecedented third term in office.

Read also | Indonesian ulema against Israel’s participation in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“I will faithfully fulfill the duties entrusted to me by the constitution,” Xi told some 3,000 delegates in Beijing, according to Asia’s Nikkei News.

“China should strive for greater self-reliance and technological prowess, and promote industrial transformation,” the Chinese president said of tensions with the U.S. and other democracies.

Read also | Imran Khan arrested: Zaman Park in Lahore under siege after clashes between police and PTI workers (watch video).

In his re-election speech five years ago, Xi warned against any separatist attempts and opposed external interference, amid reports that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen plans to meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, according to Nikkei Asia.

China has not ruled out taking control of Taiwan by force and held military exercises near the island last year after McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited the island.

“It is necessary … to enhance the ability to maintain national security,” Xi said, advocating the modernization of the country’s armed forces.

Jinping was unanimously named China’s president for the third time on Friday, making him the country’s longest-serving leader since Mao Zedong, Nikkei Asia reported.

At the National People’s Congress in Beijing, thousands of delegates voted to appoint Xi Jinping as state president and military commander-in-chief for another five years, according to Asia’s Nikkei News. However, the process is only a formality in China’s rubber-stamp parliament, after Xi Jinping, 69, was confirmed as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party at the twice-every-decade national congress in October.

All 2,952 NPC deputies voted to approve Xi’s new mandate. Earlier, the National People’s Congress removed term limits, clearing the way for Mr. Xi to potentially stay in power for life.

Delegates also voted to appoint Vice Premier Han Zheng as China’s vice president, a mostly ceremonial position.

A series of sweeping reforms including the creation of a new financial sector regulator and a national data agency were approved, a move that could herald tighter restrictions on key sectors of the world’s second-largest economy, Nikkei Asia reported. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)